Birds Printables

Bird Printables — Donna Apsey / EyeEm / Getty Images

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Updated on October 22, 2018

Fact About Birds

There are an estimated 10,000 species of birds in the world. Despite the wide varieties in size, color, and habitat, birds share the following common characteristics:

wings
hollow bones
feathers
warm-blooded
lay eggs

Did you notice something missing from that list? Not all birds can fly! Penguins, kiwis, and ostriches can't fly.

Flightless birds are only one type of bird, though. Others (and some examples) include:

Songbirds - robins, mockingbirds, and Orioles
Birds of prey - hawks, eagles, and owls
Waterfowl - ducks, geese, and swans
Seabirds - gulls and pelicans
Game birds - turkeys, pheasants, and quail

There are 30 basic bird groups.

Birds have different types of beaks, depending on what they eat. Some birds have short, strong beaks for breaking open seeds. Others have long, thin beaks for plucking leaves off trees.

Pelicans have a pouch-like beak for scooping prey out of the water. Birds of prey have hooked beaks for tearing their prey.

Birds range in size from the tiny bee hummingbird, which is only about 2.5 inches long, to the huge ostrich, which can grow to over 9 feet tall!

Why Are Birds Important?

Birds are important to humans for many reasons. People eat the meat of birds and their eggs. (Chickens are the most common bird in the world.)

Birds such as falcons and hawks have been used for hunting throughout history. Pigeons can be trained to carry messages and were used to do so in World War I and World War II.

Feathers are used for decoration, clothing, bedding, and writing (quill pens).

Birds such as martins are helpful for controlling the insect population. Other birds, like parrots and parakeets, are kept as pets.

These study of birds is called ornithology. Birds are among the easiest of creatures to study because, with just a bit of effort, you can attract many varieties to your own backyard. If you provide food, shelter, and water, you'll be well on your way to becoming a backyard birdwatcher.

Use this free set of bird printables to supplement a study you're already doing with your students or as a starting point to studying birds.

01

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Birds Vocabulary Sheet

Print the Birds Vocabulary Sheet

Introduce your students to the study of birds with this bird vocabulary sheet. Children can do a bit of research on the Internet to discover facts such as the fastest bird or the longest living. Then, they should correctly match each its definition or description.

02

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Birds Word Search

Print the Birds Word Search

Let your students review the terms from the vocabulary sheet by finding each in the word search puzzle. Do your students remember the difference between down feathers and flight feathers?

03

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Birds Crossword Puzzle

Print the Birds Crossword Puzzle

Crossword puzzles make a fun review activity. Students will use the puzzle clues to correctly complete the puzzle. Each clue describes one of the bird-related words from the word bank.

04

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Birds Challenge

Print the Birds Challenge

See how much your students remember about birds with this challenge worksheet. Students should select the correct answer from the four multiple-choice options.

05

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Birds Alphabet Activity

Print the Birds Alphabet Activity

Young students can review bird-related terms while practicing their, ordering, thinking, and alphabetizing skills. Students should write each word in correct alphabetical order on the blank lines provided.

06

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For the Birds Tic-Tac-Toe

Print For the Birds Tic-Tac-Toe page

Young students can practice strategy, critical thinking, and fine motor skills with this bird-themed tic-tac-toe game. First, they should separate the playing pieces from the game board by cutting along the dotted line. Then, they will cut the individual pieces apart.

07

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Hawk Coloring Page

Print the Hawk Coloring Page

Hawks are one of the most common birds of prey. There are about 20 different types of hawks. These birds are carnivores that eat small animals such as mice, rabbits, or snakes. Hawks typically live 20-30 years, and they mate for life.

08

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Owls Coloring Page

Print the Owls Coloring Page

Owls are nocturnal predators that swallow their food whole. They regurgitate that parts they can't digest, such as the fur and bones, in what's called an owl pellet.

There are about 200 different types of owls that range from the tiny elf owl, which is about 5 inches long, to the great grey owl, which can grow up to 33 inches long.

09

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Birds Theme Paper

Print the Birds Theme Paper

Students can use this bird theme paper to write a story, poem or essay about birds.

10

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Birdhouse Puzzle

Print the Birdhouse Puzzle

Add some extra fun to your bird study with this simple puzzle for young children. Let them practice with scissors by cutting out the pieces along the white lines, then they can have fun completing the puzzle!

For best results, print on card stock.

Updated by Kris Bales