Sandgrouse

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/sandgrouse

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 scientific name?Pteroclidae
2. What is the genera?Syrrhaptes and Pterocles
3. How do sandgrouse carry water?Male sandgrouse soak special belly feathers that act like a sponge. They then fly many kilometers to bring the water back to their chicks.
4. Where do sandgrouse live?They live in treeless, open areas such as savannas, steppes, and deserts across Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Some species also visit the Iberian Peninsula and France.

Hydrophilic: Having a strong affinity for water; readily absorbing or dissolving in water.
Ventral: Relating to or situated on or toward the lower, abdominal plane of the body.
Cryptic Plumage: Feathers that provide camouflage, helping an animal blend into its environment.
Ecological Plasticity: The ability of an organism to adapt to different environmental conditions or to occupy a range of ecological niches.