Crippled-bird act

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/crippled-bird-act

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. What is the diet?Species-specific; typically includes invertebrates, seeds, small vertebrates, and plant matter
2. What is the key behavior?Distraction display (simulated injury) to divert predators from nests
3. Why do birds pretend to be hurt?They do it to protect their eggs or babies by luring predators away.
4. How does a bird show it looks injured?It moves slowly, drags a wing, hops with a limp, and makes distress calls.

Distraction Display: An anti-predator behavior where an animal feigns injury to lure a predator away from a vulnerable location, such as a nest.
Altricial Young: Offspring that are born in a helpless condition and require significant parental care.
Behavioral Ecology: The study of the evolutionary basis for animal behavior due to ecological pressures.