EVS / Science
Birds Around Us
Learning Objectives
- I can name common birds found in India.
- I can name the parts of a bird.
- I can say what different birds eat.
- I can name birds that cannot fly.
- I can explain how birds are born from eggs.
- I can say how birds are useful to us and nature.
- I can say how to care for and protect birds.
Let Us Begin!
Have you heard birds singing in the morning? Have you seen a crow sitting on a tree or a sparrow hopping on the ground?
Birds are all around us. They are beautiful creatures that can fly, sing, and build nests.
Let us learn about the birds around us!
Common Birds in India
| Bird | Colour | Special Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Sparrow | Brown and white | Small bird. Hops on the ground. Makes nests in houses. |
| Crow | Black | Very clever bird. Eats almost anything. Caws loudly. |
| Parrot | Bright green | Can talk and copy human voices. Eats fruits and seeds. |
| Peacock | Blue and green | National bird of India. Has beautiful feathers. Dances in rain. |
| Pigeon | Grey and white | Very common in cities. Used to carry messages long ago. |
| Cuckoo | Dark brown | Has a sweet, melodious call. Sings "coo-coo". |
| Owl | Brown and white | Active at night (nocturnal). Has large eyes. Hoots loudly. |
| Kingfisher | Blue and orange | Dives into water to catch fish. Has a long, sharp beak. |
| Crane | White and grey | Long-legged wading bird. Found near rivers and wetlands. |
| Mynah | Brown and black | Very common in India. Can mimic sounds and human speech. |
Meena has a pet parrot named Mitthu. Mitthu can say "Hello Meena!" and "Good morning!" Parrots are very clever birds!
Parts of a Bird
All birds have the same basic parts:
| Part | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Wings | Help the bird fly through the air |
| Feathers | Cover the body. Keep the bird warm. Help in flying. |
| Beak | Used to eat food, build nests, and drink water |
| Eyes | Birds have very sharp eyesight |
| Legs and claws | Used to walk, perch on branches, and catch food |
| Tail | Helps the bird balance and steer while flying |
What Do Birds Eat?
| Bird | What It Eats |
|---|---|
| Sparrow | Seeds, grains, and small insects |
| Crow | Almost anything — grains, fruits, insects, scraps |
| Parrot | Fruits, seeds, and nuts |
| Peacock | Seeds, insects, small lizards, and berries |
| Eagle | Fish, small animals, and snakes |
| Pigeon | Seeds and grains |
Birds That Cannot Fly
Most birds can fly, but some birds cannot fly at all!
Ostrich — The largest bird in the world. It cannot fly but can run very fast.
Penguin — Lives in cold places. Cannot fly but is an excellent swimmer.
Emu — A large bird from Australia. Cannot fly but runs fast.
Arjun was surprised to learn that penguins are birds! "But they swim, not fly!" he said. His teacher explained, "Yes, they are birds — they have feathers and beaks — but they cannot fly!"
Bird Nests and Migration
Bird Nests: Birds build nests to lay eggs and raise their young ones. Different birds build different types of nests:
| Bird | Type of Nest | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Sparrow | Small nest of twigs and grass | In holes in walls or trees |
| Weaver bird | Hanging nest woven from grass | Hanging from tree branches |
| Eagle | Large nest of sticks | On top of tall trees or cliffs |
Migration: Some birds fly to warmer places in winter and return in summer. This is called migration. The Siberian crane flies all the way from Russia to India every winter!
Arjun was surprised to learn that penguins are birds! They have feathers and beaks but cannot fly. They swim instead!
How Are Birds Born?
Birds are born from eggs. The mother bird lays eggs in the nest. She sits on the eggs to keep them warm. After some days, the eggs hatch and baby birds come out.
Life Cycle of a Bird
Egg → Chick (hatches from egg) → Young bird (grows feathers) → Adult bird (can fly and lay eggs)
- The mother bird sits on the eggs to keep them warm. This is called incubation.
- When the egg is ready, the baby bird breaks the shell with its beak and comes out.
- Baby birds are called chicks. They are helpless at first and need their parents to bring food.
- As they grow, feathers appear and they learn to fly.
Sita found a small nest in her garden with three tiny blue eggs inside. Her mother said, "Don't touch them! The mother bird will come back to sit on them." A few days later, Sita heard tiny chirping sounds — the eggs had hatched!
How Birds Are Useful to Us
Birds are very useful to people and to nature:
| Bird | How It Is Useful |
|---|---|
| Hen / Chicken | Gives us eggs and meat to eat |
| Duck | Gives us eggs and meat |
| Peacock | Beautiful feathers used in decoration. National bird of India. |
| Owl, Kite, Eagle | Eat rats and mice — help farmers protect crops |
| Sparrow, Mynah | Eat insects that damage crops — natural pest control |
| Parrot, Sunbird | Carry pollen from flower to flower — help plants grow fruits |
| Crow | Eats dead animals and garbage — keeps the environment clean |
Birds that eat insects help farmers a lot! Without birds, insects would eat all the crops. Birds are nature's pest controllers.
How to Care for Birds
Birds are our friends. We must take care of them and protect them.
- Provide water — Keep a small bowl of fresh water outside for birds, especially in summer.
- Put out grains — Scatter a few grains of rice or wheat for birds to eat.
- Do not disturb nests — If you find a bird's nest, do not touch or move it.
- Do not cage wild birds — Wild birds should be free. Only birds bred for pets (like some parrots) should be kept as pets.
- Plant trees — Trees give birds a place to live, build nests, and find food.
- Do not throw stones — Never throw stones at birds or disturb them.
Every summer, Ravi's grandmother puts a clay pot of water on the terrace for birds. Sparrows and pigeons come every morning to drink and bathe. "Birds get thirsty too," she says. "We must help them."
Key Words
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Feathers | The soft covering on a bird's body |
| Beak | The hard, pointed mouth of a bird |
| Nest | A home built by birds to lay eggs and raise young ones |
| Migrate | When birds travel to another place in a different season |
| Melodious | Having a sweet, pleasant sound |
⭐ Key Points to Remember
- Common birds in India include sparrow, crow, parrot, peacock, pigeon, cuckoo, owl, kingfisher, crane, and mynah.
- All birds have wings, feathers, a beak, eyes, legs, and a tail.
- Different birds eat different things — seeds, fruits, insects, or fish.
- The peacock is the national bird of India.
- Some birds cannot fly — ostrich, penguin, and emu.
- Birds are born from eggs. Egg → Chick → Young bird → Adult bird.
- Baby birds are called chicks. The mother sits on eggs to keep them warm.
- Birds help us by giving eggs, eating insects, and carrying pollen.
- We should care for birds — provide water, do not disturb nests, plant trees.
- Birds build nests to lay eggs. Some birds migrate in winter.
Practice Questions
A. Fill in the Blanks
1. The is the national bird of India.
2. A parrot is in colour.
3. Birds use their to eat food and build nests.
4. The is the largest bird in the world and cannot fly.
5. Birds build to lay eggs and raise their young ones.
6. A baby bird that has just hatched from an egg is called a .
7. When birds travel to warmer places in winter, it is called .
8. The owl is a bird — it is active at night.
B. Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which bird can copy human voices?
2. Which bird cannot fly but can swim?
3. What do sparrows eat?
C. Short Answer Questions
1. Name four common birds found in India.
2. Name three parts of a bird and say what each part does.
3. Name two birds that cannot fly.
4. How are birds born? Write the life cycle of a bird.
5. Write two ways in which birds are useful to us.
6. Write two ways we can care for birds.
7. What is migration? Give one example.
D. True or False
1. All birds can fly.
2. The peacock is the national bird of India.
3. Parrots can copy human voices.
4. Penguins are not birds.
5. Birds use their beaks to eat food.
🎨 Fun Activity -- Bird Watching!
Look outside your window or in your garden for one week. Write down every bird you see.
| Bird I Saw | Colour | Where I Saw It |
|---|---|---|
Want a printable worksheet? Switch to Worksheet View, then print.