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Level A1 – BeginnerCEFR A1
2 min
71 words
- Scissor-tailed nightjars live in northern Argentina at night.
- They fly and hunt moths and beetles.
- Males have long forked tails that spread.
- People heard sharp snapping sounds near them.
- Scientists recorded the snaps with special cameras.
- The cameras showed males striking wing joints together.
- The snaps are not bird calls but wing impacts.
- Birds hit their wing bones to make a clap.
- Researchers still seek the source of another sound.
Difficult words
- hunt — look for and catch animals for food
- moth — a usually night insect with wingsmoths
- beetle — an insect with a hard shell backbeetles
- snap — a short loud sound like a clapsnapping, snaps
- joint — a place where two parts meetwing joints
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you hear birds at night?
- Have you seen moths or beetles?
- Have you heard a sharp snapping sound?
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