Bird Changes Colors as it Exercises

What color are flamingos? Pink, right? Well, actually, when they are born, flamingos are gray. The food they eat changes the color of their feathers to pink. 紅鶴剛出生的時候其實是灰色的，牠們吃的食物讓牠們有粉紅色的羽毛。 Another bird that changes color because of what they eat is called the Crossbill. It eats red berries and so its feathers also turn red. 交嘴雀吃的紅莓也會讓牠們的羽毛變紅。 But scientists in Spain looked at some crossbills and said, "Hey, why is that bird more red than that other Crossbill bird?" 但是，西班牙的科學家發現，有一些交嘴雀比其他同伴更紅。 So, they studied the birds and found out that only the male Crossbills got redder. 只有公的交嘴雀會變比較紅。 Then… the scientists saw that the male Crossbills that were flying the most… got redder than the other male Crossbills. 而且最常飛的公雀比其他的還要紅。 That means that the male Crossbills that exercise the most, become the most red! It's not only the food they eat that makes them red, but also how much exercise they do! 這代表最常運動的交嘴雀會變得最紅。 The male Crossbill shows how strong it is by flying more, and that exercise makes them redder. That's how they show they could be a good daddy! 越常飛的交嘴雀就越強壯，所以變紅代表他們會成為好爸爸。 Cool! Hmm… maybe I'm like a Crossbill! I turn red when I exercise too! 我運動的時候也會全身發紅！ Birds need exercise to stay strong… and so do we! Even if it also makes you turn a little red. ________________________________ Vocabulary 食物和運動，可以改變某些鳥類羽毛的顏色。 1) color 顏色 Pink and red are beautiful colors. 粉紅色跟紅色都是漂亮的顏色。 Are you going to change your hair color again? 你又要變頭髮顏色了嗎？ Yeah, how do you like red hair? 對啊，你覺得紅色頭髮怎麼樣？ 2) feather 羽毛 The bird has bright yellow feathers. 那隻鳥有亮黃色的羽毛。 It really looks amazing! 看起來真搶眼！ But it's only for this season. 但是只有這個季節才有。 3) most 最 The bird that flies the most is the strongest. 飛最多的鳥最強壯。 I don't fly, but I run. 我不飛，但是我跑步。 4) turn 變成 Shrimps are turning red! 蝦子變成紅色了。 That's because you're cooking them. 這是因為你在煮牠。 I know, but they're changing so fast. 我知道，但是牠們變得好快！ Let's read these words together. color 顏色 feather 羽毛 most 最 turn 變成 ________________________________ Quiz 1. What is the name of the bird in the story? A: The Crossfit B: The Crosseye C: The Crossbill 2. Why are these birds red? A: They eat red things, and their food turns their feathers red B: They paint themselves red C: They eat red birds, so they turn red too 3. Why are some of the male birds more red? A: They eat more red food B: They sleep more C: They exercise more Answers 1. C 2. A 3. C -- Hosting provided by SoundOn