Bird Adaptations: Beaks vs. Feathers
Reread the first paragraph of page 8 in "Animals’ Tools for Survival" and paragraphs 16–18 in "Animal Coverings." Think about how a bird’s beak and a bird’s feathers help it survive. Then, answer the question below in 3-6 sentences. Use complete sentences and include evidence from both texts to support your answer.
Source 1
A beak is the hard outer part of a bird’s mouth. Some birds, such as herons and pelicans, use their large beaks to catch fish. Others, such as macaws and toucans, use them to reach hard-to-get food.
Animals’ Tools for Survival, page 8, first paragraph.
Source 2
16 Feathers are a unique adaptation. Birds are the only animals that have feathers. Like reptile scales, feathers are mostly made of keratin. Keratin makes feathers strong and durable. Like scales, feathers protect a bird’s body, keeping it warm and dry.
17 There are many different kinds of feathers. Down feathers are closest to the bird’s skin. They are soft and fluffy. Down feathers keep birds such as ducks warm by trapping air. Contour feathers are the visible top layer. They provide the shape and the color of a bird.
18 Flight feathers, such as those on hawks, are light and wide. These feathers cover the wings and tail of a bird. They help a bird fly. Flight feathers also help birds steer, keep their balance, and land. They help birds fly away from predators, too.
Animal Coverings, paragraphs 16–18.
Question 1
Which adaptation is more essential to a bird’s survival — its beak or its feathers? Explain your reasoning with evidence from both texts.
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