Xenops: Toilet paper tube crafts

So there are literally only 4 choices to make an animal that starts with X. You’ve got the X-Ray tetra (fish), Xenopoceilus (fish), Xerus (squirrel like mammal), and the Xenops. So, I decided to make X for Xenops!

Here’s what you need to make the toilet paper roll vulture:

• 1/2 of a toilet paper roll
• Scissors
• Single hole punch
• Pencil
• Sharpie marker
• Glue
• White scrap paper
• Cereal box

To start, cut your toilet paper roll in half or better yet, use a tp half you already have on hand! Then, grab your empty cereal box and doodle on the xenops head. This is a pretty simple head to make, it is basically an oval with a triangular beak. Once you like the head shape, outline it with black marker and cut it out! Add a black circle for the eye with a marker. Next, hole punch out one circle for the eye and glue it to the center of your black dot on the head. It’s amazing how much life the little white circle hole punch brings to the creatures! Next, use a pencil to draw a wing on your xenops. Then outline it with black maker and cut it out with scissors. Last, cut a vertical slip in the head of the xenops and the top of the tp tube so that you can slide the 2 pieces together to form your bird!

Here are the other animal toilet paper tube crafts for kids in the series:

• A is for anteater
• B is for beaver
• C is for cat
• D is for dog
• E is for elephant
• F is for fish
• G is for giraffe
• H is for horse
• I is for iguana
• J is for jellyfish
• K is for kangaroo
• L is for llama
• M is for mouse
• N is fo Numbat
• O is for Octopus
• P is for pig
• Q is for quail
• R is for raccoon
• S is for seal
• T is for turkey
• U is for unicorn
• V is for vulture
• W is for Walrus

And now for a few fun facts about xenops:

• Xenops is a genus in the bird family Furnariidae.
• They are found in Mexico, Central America and South America and tropical rain forest.
• Xenops eat insects, mainly ants and ant larvae.
• The Xenops’ nest is a hole in a decaying tree that is lined with grass and other plant material.
• Both the male and female xenops help construct the nest.

Next Tuesday I’ll have a “Y” toilet paper tube creature to share with y’all!  Only 2 more left, ahh!