Classifying bird adaptations
In this activity, students classify the different types of adaptations that New Zealand native birds have.
Kiwi adaptations
Structural adaptations that kiwi have include whiskers at the base of their beak to aid in nocturnal navigation. Nostrils at the end of their beak assist them in finding food. The plumage of a kiwi enables them to blend with the undergrowth in the forest, preventing predators from detecting them by sight.
By the end of this activity, students should be able to:
classify adaptations of birds as structural, behavioural or physiological.
Download the Word file for:
introduction/background notes
instructions on what you need and what to do
discussion questions
ideas for extending your students
student handouts.
Related content
Conserving native birds covers three key science concepts structural, behavioural and physiological adaptations, these are looked at further in the article Native bird adaptations.
We have re-purposed the popular Building Science Concepts Book 3: Birds: Structure, Function, and Adaptation with an article and interactive linking this great resource with Hub content.
Bird adaptations and identification has information to help hone your identification skills. Kei ngā urutaunga me te tautohunga manu he mōhiohio hei āwhina i a koe ki te whakakoi i ō pūkenga tautohunga.
The Connected article Life in Aotearoa New Zealand looks at what made our wildlife so unique and introduces the science concepts evolution and adaptation.
Investigate how New Zealand came to have such unique ecosystems – one dominated by birds and explore how our unique ecosystem has changed over the years in Our changing ecosystems.
Find out more about takahē adaptations in the article The takahē’s ecological niche.
Read about the conservation efforts to increase kākā numbers, including research on modifying their behaviour to better suit an urban environment.
Activity idea
Birds in my backyard is a ready-to-use cross-curricular teaching resource.
In Animal and plant adaptations – students learn about animal and plant adaptations in Antarctic species and use these ideas to design their own unique animal or plant.
