Birds

Birds come in many different shapes and sizes; from the tiny hummingbird to the enormous Bald Eagle and Snowy Owl. Though most birds are omnivorous, in that the grand majority will eat seeds, fruit, and insects, many have specialized diets. Some, like the Great Horned Owl, eat mostly meat, while others, like the hummingbird, survive only on specialized sources of plant matter. What makes birds stand out among all other animals? The obvious answer would be that they can fly, but this would be untrue. Some species, like the penguin and the ostrich, are completely flightless (none of these birds live in or around Minnesota). So is it that they lay eggs? No, many reptiles, amphibians and insects do that too. It certainly isn't that they are warm-blooded; there isn't a mammal around that is cold-blooded. Well, the answer is pretty simple; all birds have feathers. In fact, they are the only kind of creature in the world that has them! Feathers serve many purposes. Like a jacket, they retain body heat, they help birds to fly, provide camouflage, and, in the case of waterfowl, repel water.

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