5. They have 7,200 feathers, which are light, strong, hollow, and flexible. There are no feathers on the lower legs and feet. 

6. Like wearing a jacket, feathers trap layers of warm air close to the body to keep the bird warm.  If it is cold, the bird can puff up the feathers to trap more warm air. 

7. Tail feathers are used as a brake when landing and to help turn when flying (like a boat rudder). 

8. They can fly to an altitude of 10,00 feet, up to 35 mph when level, and up to 100mph when diving. 

9. They have pneumatic (hollow) bones, which make the bird weigh less than it would if they were solid. Their bones weigh a total of ½ pound. Birds with hollow bones are light enough to fly. 

10. They have 14 cervical vertebrae, or neck bones—humans have only 7. This allows them to turn their head to look directly behind them. Can you turn your head completely backwards? 

11. It has no vocal chords. Sound produced in the syrinx, a bony chamber inside the throat. It has a shrill, high-pitched and twittering call. 

1. The bird is different colors at different ages. As a baby, it is light gray. As a juvenile (stage between baby and adult) it is a mixture of brown and white with a black bill. 

2. At around 4 years old it is an adult. It changes colors again to a blackish-brown body and white head and tail. It’s legs, feet, and beak are yellow. 

3. An adult can have a wingspan of 5.5 feet to 8 feet. Females are bigger than males. 

4. They weigh 10-14 pounds.