How do birds scratch an itch on their heads?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. How do birds scratch an itch on their heads?

The Big Idea

Where do you scratch when your head itches? Birds have an itchy problem too. How do they reach their heads?

Feet Do It

Step one: Feet Do It. Birds can't reach their heads with their wings. So they use their feet to scratch.

Two Styles

Step two: Two Styles. Some birds lift a foot over the wing to reach. Others swing the foot underneath the wing. Scientists call these over-the-wing and under-the-wing scratching.

A Family Clue

Step three: A Family Clue. Different kinds of birds usually scratch the same way every time. So the style can be a clue to which family a bird belongs to.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Does the work. One style. Another style. Clue to kind.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Over-the-wing and under-the-wing scratching both appear in the bird world. Wings can't reach the head. Scratching styles give clues about bird families. You can watch pet birds scratch.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Reach your opposite hand over your arm to scratch your ear. Now reach under your arm instead. Which feels more natural? Try it a few times each way. Birds have a favorite style too!

Outro

Birds can't reach their heads with their wings, so they scratch with their feet, either reaching over the wing or under it. Each kind of bird usually sticks to one style, which can be a clue to its family. Science is amazing! The world is full of surprises. Keep asking big questions, and keep exploring with me! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!