Free Printable: Birds Coloring and 3-Part Cards

Are you looking to add an engaging and educational activity to your bird unit or nature shelf? Our free printable set of Montessori 3-part cards of common birds is a perfect addition to your classroom. These cards not only feature color illustrations but also include blackline versions for coloring so children can create their own bird booklets.

This set includes 16 common birds: Bluebird, Bluejay, Bunting, Cardinal, Chickadee, Goldfinch, Hummingbird, Magpie, Meadowlark, Mockingbird, Pigeon, Raven, Robin, Sparrow, Warbler, and Woodpecker.

Whether you’re conducting a unit on birds or simply looking to enrich your zoology or nature shelf, these 3-part cards will captivate your students and foster a love for learning about the natural world.

Using Montessori 3-Part Cards

Montessori 3-part cards help children build their vocabulary by associating images with words. This visual connection supports language development and strengthens reading skills. As children match the pictures to the corresponding labels and control cards, they become more familiar with the names and characteristics of different birds.

The simple but realistic illustrations on the cards encourage children to closely observe the physical features of each bird. This practice helps develop their ability to notice and describe specific traits, such as color, size, and beak shape.

Children can work with the cards independently or in small groups, exploring at their own pace. Check out this post from I Believe in Montessori for ideas on how to use 3-part cards with your children: 20+ DIFFERENT WAYS TO USE MONTESSORI 3-PART CARDS

Encourage Bird Watching

Bird watching is a wonderful activity that can enhance your students’ learning experience while fostering a deep connection with nature. Here are some tips on how to encourage bird watching using the Montessori 3-part cards and some additional strategies:

Tips for Observing Birds in the Wild or in Your Backyard

1. Create a Bird-Friendly Environment: Start by making your outdoor space inviting for birds. Set up bird feeders, bird baths, and nesting boxes to attract a variety of species. Plant native trees and shrubs to provide natural food sources and shelter.
2. Equip Your Students: Provide binoculars and field guides to help children observe and identify birds from a distance. Teach them how to use these tools effectively.
3. Choose the Right Time and Place: Early mornings and late afternoons are the best times for bird watching, as birds are most active during these periods. Select quiet locations where birds are likely to be found, such as parks, gardens, or nature trails.
4. Practice Patience and Quietness: Encourage children to be patient and quiet while observing birds. Teach them to move slowly and avoid sudden movements that might scare the birds away.
5. Keep a Bird Journal: Have students maintain a journal to record their observations. They can note the species they see, the date and time of the sighting, and any interesting behaviors they observe. This practice enhances their observation skills and helps track their learning progress.

This Birds Printable Cards Set Includes the Following Birds:

Bluebird: Bluebirds are small birds with bright blue feathers on their backs and reddish-brown chests. They are symbols of happiness and sing cheerful songs. Bluebirds like to nest in holes in trees or birdhouses, and they often eat insects and berries.

Bluejay: Bluejays are easily recognized by their bright blue feathers and white chests, with a black necklace-like marking. They are smart birds that can imitate the calls of other birds, like hawks, to scare them away. Bluejays are known for their loud calls and love to eat nuts and seeds.

Bunting: Buntings are small, colorful songbirds. Male buntings often have bright blue, green, or red feathers. They sing sweet, musical songs and are usually found in open woods and brushy areas. Buntings eat seeds and insects, and they are fun to watch because of their bright colors.

Cardinal: Cardinals are medium-sized birds with a distinctive crest on their heads and bright red feathers. Both male and female cardinals sing beautiful songs. They are easy to spot because of their bright red color, and they enjoy eating seeds, fruits, and insects.

Chickadee: Chickadees are small birds with black caps and bibs, and white cheeks. They are curious and often join mixed flocks of different bird species. Chickadees make a “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” call and like to eat seeds, insects, and berries. They often hide food to eat later.

Goldfinch: Goldfinches are small birds with bright yellow feathers in the summer and more muted colors in the winter. They have a bouncy flight pattern and a cheerful song. Goldfinches love to eat seeds, especially from thistles, and they are often seen in fields and meadows.

Hummingbird: Hummingbirds are tiny birds known for their fast wing beats and ability to hover in the air. They feed on nectar from flowers and can fly in all directions, even backward. Hummingbirds have iridescent feathers that shine in the light and are very agile fliers.

Magpie: Magpies are black and white birds known for their intelligence and ability to solve problems. They like to collect shiny objects and are one of the few animals that can recognize themselves in a mirror. Magpies are noisy birds and eat a variety of foods, including insects and small animals.

Meadowlark: Meadowlarks are medium-sized birds with bright yellow chests and a black “V” on their chest. They sing beautiful, flute-like songs and are often found in open fields and meadows. Meadowlarks eat insects and seeds and build their nests on the ground.

Mockingbird: Mockingbirds are known for their ability to mimic the songs of other birds and even other sounds like car alarms. They have a varied and beautiful song repertoire. Mockingbirds are gray with white patches on their wings and love to sing all day long.

Pigeon: Pigeons are common birds in cities and towns, known for their cooing sounds. They have been used to carry messages because they can find their way home over long distances. Pigeons eat seeds, fruits, and scraps of food, and they often gather in large flocks.

Raven: Ravens are large, all-black birds known for their intelligence and ability to mimic sounds, including human speech. They are often seen in myths and stories. Ravens are very smart and can use tools to get food. They eat a wide variety of foods, including insects and small animals.

Robin: Robins are easy to recognize by their red breasts and cheerful songs. They are often seen hopping on lawns looking for worms. Robins are one of the first birds to return in the spring, and they build their nests with mud and grass.

Sparrow: Sparrows are small, brown birds that are common in both cities and the countryside. They make cheerful chirping sounds and often feed in flocks. Sparrows eat seeds and insects and are very social birds that like to stay close to people.

Warbler: Warblers are small, colorful songbirds with beautiful and varied songs. They are very active and often seen flitting about in trees and bushes. Warblers eat insects and are known for their long migrations, traveling great distances between their breeding and wintering grounds.

Woodpecker: Woodpeckers are known for pecking on tree trunks to find insects. They have strong bills and stiff tails to help them cling to trees. Woodpeckers have special skulls to protect their brains from the impact of pecking. They eat insects, nuts, and seeds, and often drum on trees to communicate.

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