CEFR Level: A1 (Beginner)

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Beautiful Bird Feathers

February 18, 2026 — There is a bird. It is called a kingfisher. It is a small bird. It has very beautiful feathers. The feathers are blue and green.

Scientists want to know: why are the feathers so beautiful? They use special X-ray light. The light is very strong. It shows very small things.

The scientists look at the feathers. They find something interesting. The feathers have very small holes. The holes are like a sponge. The light goes into the holes. Then the light comes back as blue and green colors. There is no paint. The color comes from the shape!

In China, people use kingfisher feathers in art. This art is very old. It is called “tian-tsui.” Artists put the feathers on metal. They make beautiful jewelry and hats. The art is from the Qing dynasty. That was a long time ago.

The scientists are from Northwestern University in the United States. They work with a big museum in Chicago. They want to learn more about the feathers and the old Chinese art.

Source: X-rays reveal kingfisher feather structure in unprecedented detail — Ars Technica

Vocabulary Help

• kingfisher = a small, colorful bird that catches fish
• feather = the soft covering on a bird’s body
• X-ray = special light that can see inside things
• sponge = a soft thing with many small holes
• jewelry = rings, necklaces, and other pretty things people wear

Grammar Focus

• Present simple: “The bird has beautiful feathers.”
• There is/are: “There is a bird.”

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