There are amazing animals all over the world that are built to fly. From giant birds of prey to tiny songbirds, these flying animals are adapted to thrive in the skies. Come with me to discover animals that fly!
Eagles
The bald eagle is one of the most easily recognized birds in the United States. Their brilliant white heads and impressive wings are unmistakable, but did you know there are 60 different kinds of eagles that live all over the world? The most special thing about eagles is their eyes. Their eyes can see five more colors than humans and they can see very small animals very far away. Even animals that use camouflage are easy for an eagle to spot. They use this special skill to hunt for food. You might have heard someone say that a person with good eyesight has “eagle eyes,” now you know why!
Flamingos
Flamingos are tall pink birds with curvy necks and are often seen standing in the water on one leg. They live in tropical regions of North, Central and South America. Some species of flamingos can also be found in Asia, Africa and warm places in Europe. They like to hang out in muddy, swampy water because it is hard for predators to catch them there. It is also where the food they like to eat can be found.
Flamingos are pink because of what they eat. They eat crustaceans, algae, brine-shrimp and brine-flies. A flamingo is born grayish white and turns pink as it grows up.
Flamingos can be up to 5 feet tall, but only weigh between five and six pounds. That is almost like being as tall as an adult but only weighing as much as a newborn baby. This is what makes it possible to fly with such long bodies. Flamingos’ wings are as long or longer than their bodies from head to foot.
Albatross
We will need to take a boat to meet our next bird. The albatross is a special seabird that has the longest wings of any bird. The length of a bird’s wings is called wingspan. An albatross’ wingspan can be up to 11 feet long. Albatrosses don’t come to land very often, usually only to lay eggs and care for their eggs. Because their wings are so long they can soar on ocean breezes, far away from land, for hours without resting. Albatrosses can also bob out on the open water.
Albatrosses also have a very long life. The oldest albatross recorded was 50 years old!
Parrots
Parrots are bright, colorful birds that people often have as pets. In the wild, most parrots live in jungles in tropical places. They come in bright blues, reds, yellows and greens.
You might have heard a parrot “talk”. Parrots can’t really talk, but they can imitate or copy the sounds that people make. Parrots are very smart, so pet owners can teach their parrots repeat certain words or phrases.
Like the albatross, parrots also live a long time. Parrots can live up to 80 years.
Owls
We need to stay awake at night to see owls, because owls are nocturnal. Being nocturnal means that owls fly, hunt and eat during the night and sleep during the day. There are 200 different kinds of owls and they come in many different shapes and sizes.
Can you hoot like an owl? Owls hoot to tell other owls where their territory is located. Not all owls hoot, some use screeching or hissing noises to communicate.
Owls’ feathers are perfect for hunting. They are extra soft and make almost no noise while they are flying. This helps owls sneak up on the animals they are hunting. Owls are especially helpful for farmers, because they keep away unwanted mice and other rodents.
Keeping Track
There are so many different kinds of birds and they all have special features that help them live in their habitat and fly through the sky. Some people like to keep track of all the birds they have seen. You can do this too! Write down the birds you see in a notebook. You can draw or write what the bird looked like, where you saw it and what kind of noises it made. What is your favorite bird?
If you would like to learn more amazing facts about animals through fun sing-a-longs songs visit Jungle Jim’s YouTube Channel!
Smithsonian National Zoological Park