Cream-colored courser

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/cream-colored-courser

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 Cream-colored courser?Length: 20-24 cm (8-9.5 inches)
2. What is the scientific name?Cursorius cursor
3. What is the diet?Carnivore; primarily insectivorous, preying on ants, beetles, and other ground-dwelling invertebrates
4. What does the cream-colored courser look like?It is a medium-sized bird, about 20-24 cm long, with sandy, cryptic feathers that help it blend into the desert. Its long, slender legs are built for running fast across open ground.
5. How does the cream-colored courser catch its food?It hunts by running quickly across the sand, using its sharp vision to spot insects. When it sees ants, beetles, or termites, it dashes after them to grab them.

Cursorial: Adapted for running, characterized by long legs and efficient locomotion on land.
Invertebrate: An animal lacking a vertebral column, such as insects, spiders, and worms.
Cryptic Plumage: Feather coloration that provides camouflage, helping an animal blend into its environment.
Arthropod: A large phylum of invertebrate animals that includes insects, arachnids, and crustaceans.