Waterfowl

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/waterfowl

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?Anseriformes
2. What are waterfowl and which birds are included?Waterfowl are ducks, geese, and swans that live in or near water. They belong to the order Anseriformes and are great swimmers and flyers.
3. How do waterfowl keep their feathers dry?They have special feathers that lock together and a gland that releases oily secretions. The oil repels water and keeps the feathers flexible.

Lamellae: Comb-like structures lining the edges of a waterfowl's bill, used for filtering food from water or mud.
Uropygial Gland: The preen gland, located at the base of the tail, which secretes oil essential for waterproofing and feather maintenance.
Hypoxia Tolerance: The ability of an organism to survive and function with reduced oxygen levels, a critical adaptation for diving waterfowl.
Bioindicator: A species that serves as an indicator of the environmental health of an ecosystem.