📚 Read Like a Detective

WALT: We are learning to find key facts and answer questions about what we read.

Instructions: Read the text carefully by yourself. You may read it more than once. Look for important details, think about the meaning of new words, and answer in complete sentences where you can.

The Clever Tūī

The tūī is a native New Zealand bird. It lives in many parts of the country, including forests, parks and gardens. A tūī can be recognised by its dark feathers, white feathers at its throat and shiny blue-green colours that appear in the light.

Tūī are nectar-eaters. They use their long, curved beaks to drink nectar from flowers such as kōwhai and flax. While feeding, they carry pollen from one flower to another. This helps the plants make seeds. Tūī also eat fruit, insects and small lizards when nectar is harder to find.

Tūī are famous for their loud and interesting calls. They can make whistles, clicks, gurgles and chuckles. Some tūī can even mimic sounds they hear around them. A tūī might copy another bird, a telephone or a car alarm. Each bird has its own collection of sounds.

In spring, male tūī sometimes defend a feeding area from other birds. They may chase an intruder away while making noisy calls. Tūī build cup-shaped nests in trees. The female usually lays two or three eggs. After the chicks hatch, both parents help feed them.

Tūī are important because they help pollinate native plants. If you see one in your garden, watch quietly. You might hear a surprising sound!

🔎 Find the Evidence

Key Facts

Record five important facts from the text. Use your own words where possible.

Comprehension Questions

_____ The chicks hatch.

_____ The female lays eggs.

_____ Both parents feed the chicks.

Self-Check

Tick each statement when you have completed it.

I found important facts in the text.

I used the text to support my answers.

I checked my spelling and punctuation.

One thing I learned about tūī is:

Teacher Answer Key — Print as a Separate Page

1. Tūī can live in forests, parks and gardens, or other suitable answers.

2. Any two: nectar, fruit, insects or small lizards.

3. They carry pollen from one flower to another, helping plants make seeds.

4. They can make whistles, clicks, gurgles and chuckles. They can also mimic sounds.

5. Two or three eggs.

6. To copy a sound.

7. Correct order: 2 — The female lays eggs; 1 — The chicks hatch; 3 — Both parents feed the chicks.

8. They may eat them when nectar is harder to find.

9. Watch quietly, because the tūī may make a surprising sound and quiet behaviour will not frighten it away.

10. Answers should summarise that tūī are native New Zealand birds with distinctive calls that eat nectar and help pollinate plants. Accept other accurate summaries.