(Wrap a small piece of paper around the index finger of each hand, and stick the ends together with tape or spit, to be the "birds." Start the rhyme by placing both hands palms down flat on a table or your lap.)

Two little dicky birds sitting on a wall,
(On the words "Two little dicky birds," dance the index finger "birds" up and down.)

One named Peter, (Raise the left "bird.")

One named Paul. (Raise the right "bird.")

Fly away Peter, ("Fly" the left hand and "bird" around your head and when the "bird" is hidden from the child, bend your index finger into your palm to hide the "bird" from view, then bring your hand back around to the starting position.)

Fly away Paul, (Do the same thing with your right hand.)

Come back Peter, ("Fly" the left hand and "bird" around your head and when the "bird" is hidden from the child, unbend your index finger to show the "bird" again, then bring your hand back around to the starting position.)

Come back Paul! (Do the same with your right hand.)

Little Robin Redbreast

Little Robin Redbreast sat upon a rail;
(Make a "bird" with one hand, and hold out the other hand with fingers extended toward the child. Place the "bird" with two fingers extended as legs and the thumb up as the head, atop the extended hand, as Robin sitting on a fence rail.)

Niddle, naddle, went his head, (Move your thumb up and down.)

Wiggle, waggle, went his tail. (Wiggle your arm.)

Two Robin Redbreasts built their nests
Within a hollow tree;
The hen sat quietly at home,
The cock sang merrily;
And all the little young ones said,
"Wee, wee, wee, wee, wee, wee."

One day (the sun was warm and bright,
And shining in the sky),
Cock Robin said, " My little dears,
'Tis time you learn to fly;
"And all the little young ones said,
"I'll try, I'll try, I'll try."

I know a child, and who she is
I '11 tell you by-and-by,
When Mamma says, " Do this," or "that,"
She says, "What for?" and "Why?"
She'd be a better child by far
If she would say " I '11 try."

Little Robin Redbreast Sat Upon a Rail (Traditional nursery rhyme)

Little Robin Redbreast sat upon a rail,
Niddle, naddle, went his head,
Wiggle, waddle, went his tail;
Little Robin Redbreast sat upon a bridle,
With a pair of speckle legs, and a green girdle.
Pit, pat, well-a-day !
Little Robin flew away;
Where can little Robin be,
But up in yon cherry-tree ?

Not I, said the cow, moo-oo!
Such a thing I'd never do.
I gave you a wisp of hay,
But did not take your nest away;
Not I, said the cow, moo-oo!
Such a thing I'd never do.

Bob-o-link! Bob-o-link!
Now, what do you think ?
Who stole a nest away
From the plum-tree to-day ?

Not I, said the dog, bow-wow!
I wouldn't be so mean, I vow.
I gave some hairs the nest to make,
But the nest I did not take;
Not I, said the dog, bow-wow!
I would not be so mean, I vow.

Coo-coo! coo-coo! coo-coo!
Let me speak a word or two:
Who stole that pretty nest
From little Robin Redbreast?

Not I, said the sheep;
Oh, no, I would not treat a poor bird so;
I gave the wool the nest to line,
But the nest was none of mine.
Baa! baa! said the sheep;
Oh, no! I wouldn't treat a poor bird so.

Caw! caw! cried the crow,
I should like to know
What thief took away
A bird's-nest to-day.

Chuck! chuck! said the hen,
Don't ask me again;
Why, I haven't a chick
Would do such a trick.
We all gave her a feather,
And she wove them together.
I 'd scorn to intrude
On her and her brood.
Chuck! chuck! said the hen,
Don't ask me again.

Chirr-a-whirr! chirr-a-whirr!
We will make a great stir.
Let us find out his name,
And all cry—For shame!

A little boy hung down his head,
And went and hid behind the bed;
For he stole that pretty nest
From little Robin Redbreast;
And he felt so full of shame
He did not like to tell his name.

The Great Brown Owl (Traditional nursery rhyme)

The Brown Owl sits in the ivy-bush,
And she looketh wondrous wise,
With a horny beak beneath her cowl,
And a pair of large round eyes.

She sat all day on the selfsame spray,
From sunrise till sunset;
And the dim grey light,
It was all too bright for the Owl to see in yet.
"Jenny Owlet, Jenny Owlet,"
Said a merry little bird,
"They say you're wondrous wise;
But I don't think you see,
Though you're looking at me
With your large, round, shining eyes."
But night came soon,
And the pale white moon
Rolled high up in the skies;
And the great Brown Owl
Flew away in her cowl,
With her large, round, shining eyes.

Little Robin Redbreast sat upon a tree,
Up went pussy cat and down went he;
Down came pussy, and away Robin ran;
Says little Robin Redbreast, "Catch me if you can."

Little Robin Redbreast flew upon a wall,
Pussy cat jumped after him and almost got a fall;
Little Robin chirped and sang, and what did pussy say?
Pussy cat said, "Meeow!" and Robin flew away.

A Little Cock Sparrow (Traditional Nursery Rhyme)

A Little Cock Sparrow Sat on a tree,
Looking as happy As happy could be,
Till a boy came by With his bow and arrow:
Says he, "I will shoot The little cock sparrow.

"His body will make me A nice little stew,
And his giblets will make me A little pie too."
Says the little cock sparrow, "I'll be shot if I stay,"
So he Clapped his wings And then flew away.

Cuckoo, Cuckoo, What Do You Do? (Traditional nursery rhyme)

Cuckoo, cuckoo, what do you do?
In April I open my bill;
In May I sing all day;
In June I change my tune;
In July I fly away.

The Cuckoo's a Fine Bird (Traditional nursery rhyme)

The cuckoo's a fine bird, He sings as he flies;
He brings us good tidings, He tells us no lies.

He sucks little birds' eggs, To make his voice clear;
And when he sings "Cuckoo" The summer is near.

The cuckoo is a merry bird, She sings as she flies;
She brings us good tidings, And tells us no lies.

She sucks little birds' eggs To make her voice clear,
That she may sing Cuckoo! Three months in the year.

There was a Fat Man of Bombay (Traditional nursery rhyme)

I saw a little birdie Coming hop, hop, hop;
So I said: "Little birdie, Will you stop, stop, stop?"
I was going to the window To say: "How do you do?"
But he shook his little tail at me, And far away he flew.

Bird in the Cage (Japanese nursery rhyme)

Bird in the cage, Bird in the cage,
When will you come out and play?
When will you come out to stay?
Late in the evening and closer to dawn,
I will stand behind you early in the morn.

Mary's Canary (Author Unknown)

Mary had a pretty bird, Feathers bright and yellow,
Slender legs -- upon my word, He was a pretty fellow.

The sweetest note he always sung, Which much delighted Mary,
She often, where the cage was hung, Sat hearing her canary.

The North Wind Doth Blow or The Robin (Traditional 16th Century Folk)

The North Wind doth blow, And we shall have snow,
And what shall the robin do then? Poor thing!

He'll sit in the barn, And keep himself warm,
And hide his head under his wing, Poor thing!

The North Wind doth blow, And we shall have snow,
And what will the dormouse do then? Poor thing!

Rolled up like a ball, In his nest snug and small,
He'll sleep till warm weather comes in. Poor thing!

The Boy in the Barn (Traditional nursery rhyme)

A little boy went into the barn,
And lay down on some hay.
An owl came out,
And flew about,
And the little boy ran away.

A Wise Old Owl (Traditional nursery rhyme)

A wise old owl lived in an oak
The more he saw the less he spoke
The less he spoke the more he heard.
Why can't we all be like that wise old bird?