LEARN all about birds this week, with your Scunthorpe Telegraph.

This week's instalment of the 24-part Disney's Wonderful World of Knowledge children's encyclopedia is all about the feathered creatures.

It is available with a special token in your newspaper tomorrow.

The encyclopedia covers some of the 9,000 species of birds, from waders to songbirds.

They can live almost anywhere, in the air, on land and in water.

Even though all birds have wings, some of them cannot fly.

The encyclopedia starts with these birds, such as the ostrich.

These amazing creatures live in Africa and grow to an incredible 9ft tall. They can also run at speeds of up to 43mph (70km/h).

Game birds, such as grouse, turkeys and pheasants, are hunted for food or sport in some countries.

They have heavy bodies and powerful legs for scratching in the ground for food.

As the encyclopedia continues, we learn about the different ways birds' wings are adapted for them to fly and search for food.

Birds such as eagles have large wings with slotted feathers to help them soar on rising currents of air.

Others, like the albatross, can fly long distances of up to 300 miles in a day, thanks to its long, slender wings.

Smaller birds are able to move faster, using their slim, swept-back wings.

Different types of birds also have their own ways of attracting a mate.

Some male birds will simply sit and sing to attract a female, while others use their bright colours to find a partner and some perform special displays in groups.

We also learn about the different types of birds in more detail, with pages dedicated to birds of prey, freshwater birds, seabirds and woodland birds, among others.

The mystery of just how birds build their nests is also explored in the encyclopedia.

Made from leaves, grass and animal hair, these nests are built by birds to lay their eggs in and keep them warm and safe from predators.

The information is joined throughout the encyclopedia by clear, fully-labelled pictures.

A mix of photographs and drawings brings the facts to life and brings the reader face to face with some of nature's most amazing creatures.

And your favourite Disney characters are there every step of the way too, adding their own unique brand of fun to proceedings.

Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald and Daisy Duck, Goofy and Pluto can all be found in amusing activities throughout the book, indulging in a spot of birdwatching and sometimes being outwitted by the birds.

Amazing facts are to be found on most pages too, providing more bite-size snippets of information.

Did you know, for example, that the whistling swan has a total of 25,216 feathers?

Or that the crested argus pheasant has a tail measuring up to 6ft long?

Another amazing fact is that the ostrich's eye is bigger than the world's smallest bird.

The magic of the encyclopedia still has another three weeks to run, with the Scunthorpe Telegraph.

Titles still to come are The World of Art, Communications and Famous Places.

So don't forget to buy your Scunthorpe Telegraph tomorrow to expand your children's Wonderful World of Knowledge – as well as your own.