Birds and Their Nests - Different Types of Birds and How They Make Nests

Birds are beautiful animals that can fly. These are animals that have feathers, beaks, and wings. They do not have teeth. Birds are warm-blooded animals. Warm-blooded animals are those that can control and maintain their internal body temperature. Their bodies are covered with feathers. Nests are home to birds. 

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Different Types of Birds

The body of the bird is divided into two sets of limbs- Legs and wings. Birds do not have hands, but they do have legs. The wings of many birds allow them to fly. The mouth of the bird is known as the beak. The characteristics that distinguish birds from other creatures, as well as themselves, are listed below.

• Feathers

• Beak

• Feet and Claws

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Feathers

• Flight Feathers - Birds use their flight feathers to help them fly. They can be found on the wings and tail of the bird.

• Body Feathers - These are coloured feathers that cover the bird's whole body.

• Down Feathers - They are soft and fluffy feathers that are located near the bird's body. They help birds in maintaining body temperature.

Beak

There are different types of beaks in birds depending on their food. Some of the examples are parrots having curved beaks, woodpeckers having chiseled beaks, etc.

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Feet and claws

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How Birds Make a Nest?

As man builds his home to live, birds also build nests to live. Birds use nests as a shelter. 

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Nests are where baby birds are born. Nests keep young birds warm while also protecting them from predators and harsh weather. The parent birds build nests out of twigs, stones, leaves, threads, fibres, and other materials. Birds build their nest in trees, bushes, the ground, and many more places. Their beaks are used to construct nests.

Types of Birds Nest

There are various natural bird’s nests. The different types of nests of birds are- 

Weaver Bird- Beautiful nests are made by weaver birds. The weaver birds receive their name from the lovely woven nests they build from twigs and dried grasses. They build hanging retort-shaped nests.

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Tailor Birds - It builds its nest with leaves. It uses its sharp beak to stitch leaves with wool, cotton, and straw. 

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Woodpeckers - They make their nests in the hollow of a tree. It keeps pounding the tree trunk with its pointed and hard beak to make nests.

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Vultures - They make their nests on large trees. Large green twigs are used to build their nests.

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Sparrows and Pigeons - Grass, leaves, feathers, and other materials are used to build the nests of sparrows and pigeons. They make them in trees, in houses, and anywhere that is safe.

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How Do Birds Reproduce?

Birds reproduce by internal fertilisation. Internal fertilisation is a method of reproduction in birds, in which the egg is fertilised inside the female. All birds reproduce by laying eggs. Birds build nests to lay eggs. The female sits down on their egg to provide a warm environment.

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Life Cycle of a Bird

A bird's lifespan is between 4 to 100 years. The life of a bird may vary from one species to another.  The stages of a bird’s growth are as follows-

1) The Egg – All birds begin their lives within an egg, which has a largely white, yellow, hard-shelled covering that protects the developing embryo.

2) The Hatching – The newly born bird is known as a hatchling once it has emerged from the egg. In this stage, a hatchling is covered in soft feathers and is unable to fly.

3) The Nestling – The bird tries to fly at this stage and shows some flying characteristics.

4) The Fledgling – A fledgling is a young bird with fully developed feathers and strong muscular wings.

5) The Juvenile – Young birds leave the nest and are able to fly alone. The juvenile birds are not sexually developed at this point.

6) The Sub Adult – Birds are able to fly but are not sexually mature.

7) The Adult – The bird is able to mate and reproduce at this stage.

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Migratory Birds

Migratory birds are those that move from one area to another area, according to the season in order to breed, feed, and raise their offspring.  The example of migratory birds are- Siberian crane, Arctic tern, etc.

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Solved Examples

1. What is the reason for birds that causes them to migrate? 

Ans. Migratory birds are those that move from one area to another area. Birds usually migrate due to the following reasons-

• Availability of food

• To maintain their internal temperature

• For breeding

2. At what time period do birds lay eggs?

Ans. In the spring season, the majority of birds lay their eggs. September is the month when birds lay the fewest eggs. The season in which birds lay eggs is determined by factors such as fitness, day duration, and latitude.

Fun Facts

• Ostrich is the tallest bird and it lays the largest eggs.

• The smallest bird egg belongs to the hummingbird and it is pea-size.

• Syrinx is the organ of birds that produces sound in birds.

• Cuckoos or Koels don’t build their own nest. It lays its eggs in the nest of a crow.

Summary

Birds are animals that have feathers, beaks, and wings. Nests keep young birds warm while also protecting them from predators and harsh weather. Different types of nests are built by different birds. The lifespan of a bird is between 4 to 100 years. Migratory birds are those that move from one area to another area, according to the season in order to breed, feed, and raise their offspring.  

Learning By Doing

Name the birds that belong to the following nests.