Umbrella Bird, The

by Ralph McTell

Larks spend all day in the sky
Penguins cannot even fly
Swallows swoop and water skim
Ducks can fly and float and swim
But of all the birds that are in the world
A strange one is the Umbrella Bird.

Ostriches are very tall
Humming birds are oh, so small
Birds of Paradise and such
But I like sparrows just as much
So many birds live in the world
A strange one is the Umbrella Bird

A Condor has the longest wings
Nightingales so sweetly sing
Toucans have the longest beak
A Parrot can be taught to speak
So many birds live in the world
A strange one is the Umbrella Bird.

Chickens live down on the farm
Blackbirds call first to alarm
Jackdaws they steal shiny things
Seagulls float upon the wind
So many birds live in the world
A strange one is the Umbrella Bird.

Many birds have funny names
Puffins, choughs and storks and cranes
Chaffinches and ptarmigans
Easy though, to understand
Of all the birds who're in the world
Why his name is Umbrella Bird