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Bird Camouflage
Many birds have camouflage to protect themselves from predators. Not all birds blend in with their environment, some stand out.
Female birds tend to blend, have camouflage, in with their natural environment to protect themselves and their offspring, babies.
Males are typically colorful for two reasons:
1. Attract the ladies :)
2. Distract predators away from their lady when needed.
Camouflage Vocabulary
Shape
- Definition: The outline or area of an object.
Texture
- Definition: The way something feels using your sense of touch or how you think it.
Size
- Definition: How big or small something is; how much space it takes up.
Color
- Definition: The pigmentation of something; the way something appears based on how it reflects light.
There are 4 types of camouflage birds:
1. Daytime Roosting Birds
These are birds that are very active at night and rest during the day.
Owls
Female birds tend to blend, have camouflage, in with their natural environment to protect themselves and their offspring, babies.
Males are typically colorful for two reasons:
1. Attract the ladies :)
2. Distract predators away from their lady when needed.
Camouflage Vocabulary
Shape
- Definition: The outline or area of an object.
Texture
- Definition: The way something feels using your sense of touch or how you think it.
Size
- Definition: How big or small something is; how much space it takes up.
Color
- Definition: The pigmentation of something; the way something appears based on how it reflects light.
There are 4 types of camouflage birds:
1. Daytime Roosting Birds
These are birds that are very active at night and rest during the day.
Owls
Night hawk
Egyptian Night Jar
ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
What is it important for these birds who rest during the day to be highly camouflaged?
2. Nesting Females
The female's camouflage helps her blend in with the nest surroundings so she can stay protected without abandoning her young.
Duck
Duck
Warbler
ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
What is it important for female nesting birds to be highly camouflaged?
What is it important for female nesting birds to be highly camouflaged?
3. Juveniles
Juvenile, baby or very young, birds are vulnerable in the nest and do not fly well at first, this camouflage gives them a slight edge over predators until they are grown enough to avoid danger.
4. Ground Foragers
Birds that regularly forage (find food) on the ground are sometimes easier to spot and need to be highly camouflaged.
Shorebirds
Shorebirds
Sparrows
ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
Can birds survive in the wild without camouflage? Explain.
Types of Bird Camouflage
Regardless of the reason why a bird needs to be camouflaged, there are 3 types of camouflage protection they may have.
1. Color Camouflage- The colors of a bird's plumage, feathers, are its first camouflage defense.
2. Marking Camouflage- A bird's markings, spots, stripes, streaks, or other patterns, help it blend into its surroundings and break up its outline to make it more difficult to see.
ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
What type of markings do you see in the image above and how can it help them in the natural environment?
What type of markings do you see in the image above and how can it help them in the natural environment?
3. Posture Camouflage- How a bird stands or sits, roosts, can be effective camouflage and enhance their ability to disappear.