MATCH BIRD PAIRS printable memory game
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Match the male and female pairs of 21 bird species from around the world! Can you find the male mallard duck and bring him together with the female mallard? What about the snowy owls? When it comes to birds, many males and females of the same species look as different as if they were two completely different birds! Matching them is challenging and tricky, but prepares the players of all ages for the fun task of bird watching and identification. After playing this game, they will not only be able to spot American goldfinch, but also identify its gender! Why Do Male and Female Birds Look Different? In most bird species, males are more colourful and vibrant than females. Evolutionary, there are several main reasons for it: female birds prefer bright colours in males female birds often spend more time than males incubating eggs, and having duller appearance helps them to hide from predators on the other hand, bright conspicuous colours help territorial males to signal that an area is already occupied Do All Species Look Different? Even though most birds exhibit a certain difference between males and females, it s not very pronounced in many species. For some, the difference is only in size. Male Canada geese are slightly bigger than females, and it s the same for Atlantic puffins. In other species the visual determination of gender can be very unreliable. Male Greater flamingos are also typically bigger than female ones, but it can also be the other way around. Finally, there are species Black-capped chickadees are visually identical. It is also important to remember that some species of birds that have a pronounced difference between males and females change colour over the course of one year. As a result, they have two different plumages: breeding and non-breeding. Breeding plumage of many males is bright, while their non-breeding look is dull and in many cases non-distinguishable from females. Male American goldfinches look very similar to females in cold months, and so do fairywrens. In the game, the birds are shown at the time when their difference is most pronounced.
Game Rules The species included in this game are American goldfinch, American robin, Atlantic puffin, blackcapped chickadee, Canada goose, common grackle, emperor penguin, Eurasian bullfinch, golden pheasant, greater flamingo, house sparrow, magnificent frigatebird, mallard duck, mandarin duck, northern cardinal, Indian peafowl, Raggiana bird-of-paradise, ruby-throated hummingbird, snowy owl, splendid fairywren, and wild turkey. Each species has a male card and a female card marked by the symbols in the corner. Each species also has a card with basic information and a fun fact. The information cards can be printed on the back of the bird pictures, making every card double-sided, with the bird picture on the front and the bird facts on the back. Double-siding is suitable if you plan to play a sorting game with the cards. If you will be playing a matching memory game, print the information cards separately, so that the back of the bird cards remain plain. Sorting Game Mix all the cards thoroughly face up, then look through them, finding the matching pairs. Matching Memory Game Depending on the number of players and their ages, you can either use a few pairs at a time (4-5) or create a big memory game with all of them. 1. Place the cards in a rectangular grid on a table. 2. Players take turns temporarily revealing two cards from the grid. If both of the cards revealed are the same species, the player who revealed them gets to keep them. 3. If a player keeps a pair of cards, they can reveal two more cards. If the cards they reveal do not match, it is the next player s turn. 4. Whoever has the most cards at the end of the game wins.
American goldfinch Spinus tristis American goldfinch Spinus tristis American robin Turdus migratorius American robin Turdus migratorius Eurasian bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula Eurasian bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula
American goldfinch Spinus tristis American goldfinch Spinus tristis These birds are so acrobatic that they can eat both upside down and upright. This dexterity allows American goldfinches to benefit from food sources which are not easily accessible to some other birds. These birds are so acrobatic that they can eat both upside down and upright. This dexterity allows American goldfinches to benefit from food sources which are not accessible to some other birds. American robin Turdus migratorius American robin Turdus migratorius Robins have a sweet tooth! Fruits, berries, and even pastry dough are their favorites. Sometimes they would eat fermented berries and then can be seen falling over while walking. Robins have a sweet tooth! Fruits, berries, and even pastry dough are their favorites. Sometimes they would eat fermented berries and then can be seen falling over while walking. Eurasian bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula Eurasian bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula Native to: Eurasia Native to: Eurasia Bullfinches are enthusiastic eaters of the buds of certain fruit trees like pears and cherries. Their short and stubby beaks are specially adapted for feeding on buds. Bullfinches are enthusiastic eaters of the buds of certain fruit trees like pears and cherries. Their short and stubby beaks are specially adapted for feeding on buds.
Magnificent frigatebird Fregata magnificens Magnificent frigatebird Fregata magnificens Golden pheasant Chrysolophus pictus Golden pheasant Chrysolophus pictus Common grackle Quiscalus quiscula Common grackle Quiscalus quiscula
Magnificent frigatebird Fregata magnificens Magnificent frigatebird Fregata magnificens Native to: tropical and subtropical waters off Americas & Galapagos Native to: tropical and subtropical waters off Americas & Galapagos Frigatebirds are the pirates of the sky, stealing food from other birds in midair. They are also known to harass other birds until they regurgitate recently captured food for the frigatebird to devour. Frigatebirds are the pirates of the sky, stealing food from other birds in midair. They are also known to harass other birds until they regurgitate recently captured food for the frigatebird to devour. Golden pheasant Chrysolophus pictus Golden pheasant Chrysolophus pictus Native to: Asia Native to: Asia Although very colourful, these birds are difficult to spot in the wild because of their timid nature. Golden pheasants hide in dark, dense forests and woodlands during the day and roost in very high trees during the night. Although very colourful, these birds are difficult to spot in the wild because of their timid nature. Golden pheasants hide in dark, dense forests and woodlands during the day and roost in very high trees during the night. Common grackle Quiscalus quiscula Common grackle Quiscalus quiscula Unlike many birds, grackles thrive while living next to humans, because of their resourceful and opportunistic nature. They are omnivores and often feed on scraps and leftovers. Unlike many birds, grackles thrive while living next to humans, because of their resourceful and opportunistic nature. They are omnivores and often feed on scraps and leftovers.
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Mandarin duck Aix galericulata Mandarin duck Aix galericulata Northern cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis Northern cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, Eurasia and Africa, Eurasia and Africa Mallards are dabbling ducks, which means they feed by floating on the water and tipping themselves forward, tails in the air, to graze on underwater plants or insects. Mallards are dabbling ducks, which means they feed by floating on the water and tipping themselves forward, tails in the air, to graze on underwater plants or insects. Mandarin duck Aix galericulata Mandarin duck Aix galericulata Native to: Asia Native to: Asia The female lays eggs in a nest high in a hollow tree trunk, 9 m (30') above the ground. Soon after hatching, the chicks jump to the ground, following their mother s call. They re light and fluffy, so injuries are uncommon. The female lays eggs in a nest high in a hollow tree trunk, 9 m (30') above the ground. Soon after hatching, the chicks jump to the ground, following their mother s call. They re light and fluffy, so injuries are uncommon. Northern cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis Northern cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis Pairs often mate for life and stay together year-round. During courtship, a male cardinal collects food and brings it to his female partner, feeding her beak-to-beak. Pairs often mate for life and stay together year-round. During courtship, a male cardinal collects food and brings it to his female partner, feeding her beak-to-beak.
Indian peafowl Pavo cristatus Indian peafowl Pavo cristatus Raggiana bird of paradise Paradisaea raggiana Raggiana bird of paradise Paradisaea raggiana Ruby-throated hummingbird Archilochus colubris Ruby-throated hummingbird Archilochus colubris
Indian peafowl Pavo cristatus Indian peafowl Pavo cristatus Native to: Asia Native to: Asia Peafowl are fast runners, although they can fly when required. They have small territories, which makes them easy to domesticate, as they won t leave an area once they feel at home and have enough food. Peafowl are fast runners, although they can fly when required. They have small territories, which makes them easy to domesticate, as they won t leave an area once they feel at home and have enough food. Raggiana bird of paradise Paradisaea raggiana Raggiana bird of paradise Paradisaea raggiana Native to: New Guinea Native to: New Guinea The birds-of-paradise are considered by many to be the most beautiful birds on Earth. They are famous for the males courtship dance and spectacular tail feathers. Some of New Guinea tribes use their feathers as currency. The birds-of-paradise are considered by many to be the most beautiful birds on Earth. They are famous for the males courtship dance and spectacular tail feathers. Some of New Guinea tribes use their feathers as currency. Ruby-throated hummingbird Archilochus colubris Ruby-throated hummingbird Archilochus colubris One of the smallest birds, it is only 3 to 3-1/2 (7,5-9 cm) long and can sometimes be mistaken for a big insect. A ruby-throated hummingbird has about 940 feathers, which makes it the bird with fewest number of feathers. One of the smallest birds, it is only 3 to 3-1/2 (7,5-9 cm) long and can sometimes be mistaken for a big insect. A ruby-throated hummingbird has about 940 feathers, which makes it the bird with fewest number of feathers.
Snowy owl Bubo scandiacus Snowy owl Bubo scandiacus House sparrow Passer domesticus House sparrow Passer domesticus Splendid fairywren Malurus splendens Splendid fairywren Malurus splendens
Snowy owl Bubo scandiacus Snowy owl Bubo scandiacus Native to: Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia Native to: Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia Snowy owls, especially males, get whiter as they get older. Females, who are darker with dusky spotting, never become completely white, but some elderly males do. Snowy owls, especially males, get whiter as they get older. Females, who are darker with dusky spotting, never become completely white, but some elderly males do. House sparrow Passer domesticus House sparrow Passer domesticus Native to: Eurasia Native to: Eurasia While native to Eurasia, house sparrows have spread everywhere and become the world s most distributed wild bird. They are found in various climates, but are missing from uninhabited forests, because they depend on coexistence with humans. While native to Eurasia, house sparrows have spread everywhere and become the world s most distributed wild bird. They are found in various climates, but are missing from uninhabited forests, because they depend on coexistence with humans. Splendid fairywren Malurus splendens Splendid fairywren Malurus splendens Native to: Australia Native to: Australia When trying to attract a female s attention, male fairywrens often display pink or purple flower petals against their feathers. They are also known for singing their courtship song with predators nearby, when the females are most attentive. When trying to attract a female s attention, male fairywrens often display pink or purple flower petals against their feathers. They are also known for singing their courtship song with predators nearby, when the females are most attentive.
Wild turkey Meleagris gallopavo Wild turkey Meleagris gallopavo Canada goose Branta canadensis Canada goose Branta canadensis Black-capped chickadee Poecile atricapillus Black-capped chickadee Poecile atricapillus
Wild turkey Meleagris gallopavo Wild turkey Meleagris gallopavo The wild turkey s bald head can change color to red, pink, white or blue according to their levels of anxiety or excitement. Unlike domesticated turkeys, wild ones can run and fly very fast. They usually only fly short distances (~400 m). The wild turkey s bald head can change color to red, pink, white or blue according to their levels of anxiety or excitement. Unlike domesticated turkeys, wild ones can run and fly very fast. They usually only fly short distances (~400 m). Canada goose Branta canadensis Canada goose Branta canadensis The male goose is a fearless defender of his mate and their nest, and will fight any suspected enemy, even as large as an elk. Mated pairs can be together as long as 20 years. The male goose is a fearless defender of his mate and their nest, and will fight any suspected enemy, even as large as an elk. Mated pairs can be together as long as 20 years. Black-capped chickadee Poecile atricapillus Black-capped chickadee Poecile atricapillus Chickadees are known for hiding seeds and other food to eat later. They hide each food item in a different spot and can remember thousands of hiding places. Chickadees are known for hiding seeds and other food to eat later. They hide each food item in a different spot and can remember thousands of hiding places.
Emperor penguin Aptenodytes forsteri Emperor penguin Aptenodytes forsteri Greater flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus Greater flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus Atlantic puffin Fratercula arctica Atlantic puffin Fratercula arctica
Emperor penguin Aptenodytes forsteri Emperor penguin Aptenodytes forsteri Native to: Antarctica Native to: Antarctica Emperor penguins are the only animals to inhabit the open ice of Antarctica during the winter. Insulating body fat and several layers of scale-like feathers protect them from icy wind. Penguins don t fly, but they swim extremely well. Emperor penguins are the only animals to inhabit the open ice of Antarctica during the winter. Insulating body fat and several layers of scale-like feathers protect them from icy wind. Penguins don t fly, but they swim extremely well. Greater flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus Greater flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus Native to: Africa and Middle East Native to: Africa and Middle East The strength of the flamingo colouration comes from its diet (shrimp, plankton algae and crustaceans). If those foods don t provide enough pigment, a flamingo can look white or gray, while still staying healthy. The strength of the flamingo colouration comes from its diet (shrimp, plankton algae and crustaceans). If those foods don t provide enough pigment, a flamingo can look white or gray, while still staying healthy. Atlantic puffin Fratercula arctica Atlantic puffin Fratercula arctica Native to: Northern Atlantic Ocean Native to: Northern Atlantic Ocean Puffins spend most of their time at sea. On land, they create burrows in rocky cliffs. At the back of the burrow, they build a nest lined with grasses, seaweed, and feathers. A couple often returns to the same burrow year after year. Puffins spend most of their time at sea. On land, they create burrows in rocky cliffs. At the back of the burrow, they build a nest lined with grasses, seaweed, and feathers. A couple often returns to the same burrow year after year.