Birds of Australia

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/birds-of-australia

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is Birds of Australia?Weebill at approximately 8 cm (3.1 inches)
2. What is the total recorded bird species?898 species as of 2014
3. What is the endemic species proportion?Exceeding 45% of the total recorded species
4. What is an emu?An emu is a large, flightless bird that lives in Australia. It is very fast and can run long distances across open plains.
5. Why are many Australian birds only found in Australia?Australia has been isolated for a very long time, so its birds evolved separately. This has created many species that live only in Australia.

Endemism: The ecological state of a species being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island or continent.
Convergent Evolution: The process whereby organisms not closely related independently evolve similar traits as a result of having to adapt to similar environments or ecological niches.
Vagrant Species: An individual animal that is found outside its typical geographic range, often due to unusual weather patterns or navigational errors.
Passerines: A large order of birds, commonly known as perching birds or songbirds, characterized by having feet adapted for perching.