Said Goldfinch: “I believe in weeds; I live all winter on the seeds; In my snug coat of black and gold I really do not feel the cold.”
“Cheer up, cheer up, it’s going to rain,” Sang plump Sir Robin, “but ’tis plain We need some moisture for the ground, So dinners may be better found.”
Flitting ’round the swimming pool, Where the air is nice and cool, Red-winged Black-Bird sings in glee: “Gloogle-ee, Gloogle-ee-e.”
Quail sings a song of sheer delight: “Bob White, Bob White, Bob-Bob-Bob White.” I wonder who Bob White may be To whom he calls so merrily.
King-Bird, like some other boys, Likes to make a lot of noise; He’s a bit boisterous in play And sometimes quarrelsome, they say.
Catbird is good at imitations, He mimics all his small relations; And, safely perched upon a bough, He imitates the cat’s “Me-ow.”
Said Purple Martin to his lady: “Here’s a house all cool and shady; I surely am a lucky swallow— This beats my building plans all hollow.”
“Che-Wee, che-wee, che-wee-che-wee,” Said Redstart, “Will you look at me? I do not sing so well by note But see my black and orange coat!”
With a flash of bright-hued wing, Bluebird comes to say it’s spring; Sets about to build his nest Upon the tree which suits him best.
Little Sir Screech Owl and his wife Live such a cheerful, useful life; They nest among the apple trees, Saying: “May we eat the bugs here, please?”
“Who, Who, who, who?” asks Sir Barn Owl, When he comes out at dusk to prowl; He has great shiny yellow eyes, And looks so very, very wise.
Ostrich’s cousin, Cassowary, Wears a coat peculiar, very; It’s half like feathers, half like hair,— There’s not one like it anywhere.
Ostrich grows to be immense But has so very little sense, For when an enemy’s at hand He covers up his head with sand.
Said Penguin, pensively, one day: “Come, fishie dear, come out and play,” But fishie answered, in a fright: “I ’ve heard about your appetite.”
Albatross has wings so strong That he could fly the whole day long; But if he’s tired, he can float Upon the waves, just like a boat.
The dainty Misses Parrakeet A Dress all in green and look so sweet; From South America they came And “Love Bird” is their other name.
Humming Bird, the dainty thing, Has no voice and cannot sing, He lives daintily, and sips Honey from the flowers’ lips.