Animal Clans

Parrots may make great pet companions, but they are even more fun to observe as a pandemonium in their natural habitat. Did you know they are the only birds that use their feet to lift food to their mouths? Learn other amazing facts in this book about these incredible and colorful creatures.

There are a few group names for vultures. A group of vultures feeding on a carcass is called a wake. Feeding in a group is more efficient as the carcass can be eaten before it is stolen by other predators. Vultures are rarely at the top of anyone's list of favorites, but readers may be surprised at how fascinating and essential vultures are.

Thick layers of feathers and extra body fat allow penguins to survive some of the harshest weather conditions on Earth. Some kinds of penguins huddle in large groups for warmth. Did you know penguins offer pebbles as gifts and are doting parents? Learn more about what makes these flightless birds so endearing.

A murder of crows is a scary way to describe a group of crows, but people often misunderstand them. They are highly intelligent, roost in large groups, and protect each other. If a crow calls for help, nearby crows come even if they don't know the calling crow. Find out more about these shiny, black corvids.

Scan across a coastal cliff along the North Atlantic or the North Pacific, and you are likely to find a large, noisy congregation of puffins. They gather to breed and raise chicks. Read how these cute, bright-beaked birds are a little clumsy on land with their distinct waddle, but can fly at high speeds and are powerful swimmers.

Appropriately named a flamboyance when in groups, these graceful, long-legged birds find safety in numbers and spend most of the time wading in shallow water searching for food. Readers may be surprised to learn that flamingos are not naturally pink! Find out how they get their color in this book about these rosie fliers.