Extra! Extra! Read all about it....

What is the "Daily Bird"?

It is a "mini" study on 1 type of bird.We have a whole “flock” of bird units. Buy 1, 2, 3, 10, or all. A great way to start the school day with a little bit of history, reading comprehension, science, art and handwriting... and all on a

subject that most children greatly enjoy....Birds!!!

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Note to the Instructor:

This mini-book is designed to give your student(s) a close look at one type of bird. There will be a "text" lesson, followed by a reading comprehension worksheet, 6

Notebooking sheets (for various levels of handwriting ability), 1 or 2 games/activities, and a coloring page.

If you plan to do more than one "Bird of the Day" we suggest that you follow the directions at the end of this mini-unit to construct your own lapbook, notebook, or

bulletin board project.

Enjoy the Bird of the Day

Brought to you by BrandenburgStudies

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Peacocks

We have seen them at the zoo and have marveled at their iridescent coloring, as

they strut and parade those fabulous tail-feathers. But where did they come from? What do they eat? Do they mate for life?... So let's take some time to look at these exotic birds and see if your questions can all be answered.

Peacocks belong to the same family of birds known as pheasants. They originally came from Southern Asia, around Indian, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. They are also found in Africa in the Congo. They prefer open forestland, but have adapted well to farms, large yards and open public areas, such as zoos. They prefer peace-and-quiet, and become “stressed” when their world is disrupted. Their call is similar to a child's cry (click here). The word “peacock” is commonly used to name this type of bird, but it be correct, they word “peacock” only refers to the male bird. The female is known as the “peahen” and the chicks are called “peachicks”. A mixed group should be called “peafowl”. And a group of peafowl is called an “ostentation” or a “pride”.

Only the males (the peacocks) have the brilliant coloring and expansive tails (which are called “trains”). The females (peahens) are drab in color with much shorter tail feathers. The peacock opens his tail-feathers like a fan and shimmers their other feathers to attract the attention of the peahens. Peacocks attempt to gather as many peahens as possible. This one-male + many females = a harem, much like a barnyard

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rooster gathers as many hens as it can to form his harem. Peafowl are rather large birds, standing about 30 inches in

height. They are 27 – 63 inches long (the male's tail-feathers making more than one-half its length), and can weigh up to 13 pounds. (The Congo species does not have as long of tail-feathers). When the peacock wants to showoff for a female, he will open his long tail-feathers, can be as much as 7 feet in diameter.

There are 3 main species of peafowl: The Indian Blue; The Indian Green; and the Congo or African species. But regardless of the species, it is the female who builds the nest and raises the young. Typically, the female will make some scratchings in the dirt; line the scratched out area with sticks; and then lays 3-8 light-tan or light-green eggs.

She incubates the eggs (alone) for 28-30 days. The chicks fledge after 2 more weeks (by that time, the peachicks can flap their wings enough to get into low tree branches). At 4 weeks they grow crests on top of their heads, and at 2 months they look very much like their mother, but about one-half the size. On average, only about 2 chicks survive to adulthood.

Peafowl tend to follow a set routine: After spending the night in a group in some trees, they

come down to the ground and separate into groups of females and males. They spend their mornings foraging for seeds, insects, berries, and small reptiles. In the afternoons, they spend their time in the shade – drinking water and preening their feathers. Once it begins to cool down, they return to foraging until dusk, when they retreat to the trees. On an interesting note, peacocks have sharp eyes and are always on the lookout for anything suspicious. They are quick to sound the alarm when they feel threatened – making them excellent “watch dogs”.

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The Peacock

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Name:______________________________________ Date: ____________________

Reading Comprehension Sheet

1. Where do Peafowl come from? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2.) What is a male peafowl called? _________________________________________3.) What is a female peafowl called? ________________________________________4.) What are a group of peafowls called (both names)? __________________________ ______________________________________________________________________5.) Describe how the male attracts females for his harem? _______________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________6.) Describe the peafowl's daily routine:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________7.) How many of a peahen's brood usually survive to adulthood? _________________ ______________________________________________________________________8.) Why are peafowls good “watchdogs”? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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