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Match the Mates

Girl and boy birds rarely look alike. Females usually have feathers with drab colors or camouflaged patterns. This helps them stay hidden while they’re sitting on nests. Males often sport brighter colors and bolder patterns. Flashy feathers help males stand out so they can defend their home habitats or catch the eye of a female. For some birds, boys and girls look so different, they seem like separate species.

The Flashy Fellas

• Orchard oriole
• Cerulean warbler
• Painted bunting
• American redstart
• Downy woodpecker
• Summer tanager
• Purple finch
• Rose-breasted grosbeak
• Red-winged blackbird