Birds and Beaks
Science Four
Beaks and Claws
Beaks
Birds eat grains, seed, fruits and flesh. They use their beak to catch and hold food. Birds do not have hands and teeth. Their beak tear, bite, chisel and crush the food. Different birds have different types of beak. It shape and size is depends on their food habit.
Some birds used their beaks to fight with the enemy or catch the prey or use it for clean the feathers.
According to their food habit beaks are different types.
Types of Beaks
On the basis of shape and work, beaks of birds can be classified into following types:
- Crushing beak
- Curved beak
- Piercing and tearing beak
- Sifting beak
- Chiselling beak
- Sticky beak
Crushing beak
Many birds have crushing beak. Crushing beaks are short and hard. Birds used crushing beak for crushing grains and seeds to make it soft.
Pigeons and sparrows have crushing beak.
Curved beak
Many birds have curved beak. As its name tells, this type of beaks have curved front. Curved beak helps a bird in cracking fruits and nuts.
Parrots have curved beak.
Piercing and tearing beak
Birds which feed on flesh of other animals have piercing and tearing beak. Piercing and tearing beaks are hard, strong and curved in structure. These types of beaks help birds in piercing and tearing of flesh of other animals, on which they feed.
Eagle and vulture have piercing and tearing beak.
Sifting beak
Many birds have sifting beak. These types of beaks are flat and broad with small holes on both sides. Birds having sifting beak, take in muddy water which has small insect and worms. The mud and water flow through the holes, trapping the insects and worms in the beak.
Duck have sifting beak.
Chiselling beak
Many birds have chiselling beak. Chiselling beaks are long, straight and strong. Birds having chiselling beak pick insect from the wood. Woodpeckers have chiselling beak.
Sticky beak
Many birds which feed on small insects have sticky beak. Sticky beaks are small, broad and strong. As its name says, sticky beaks are sticky from inside. It helps birds to catch insects (flies) during flying.
Swallows have sticky beak.
Feet and claws
Birds use their feet and claws in walking, climbing, holding foods, swimming and perching. Birds use their claws for self defence also. The shape of their feet and claws depend on their food habit. Claws have long curved nails. According to shape and size; feet and claws are of different types.
Birds of prey
Birds of prey are also known as Raptors. Birds of prey are feed on flesh of other animals, and hence their feet and claws are adapted (modified) according to their food habits.
Preying birds have strong and sharp claws to catch and hold the prey firmly and carry them away.
Vulture, eagle, hawk, and owl etc. are preying birds. They feed on the flesh of other animals. These birds catch their prey while flying.
Climbing birds
Wood pecker and parrot are climbing birds. They have two toes pointing forwards and two backwards. These types of claws help birds to climb on trees to catch the insects.
Swimming birds
Ducks and penguins are the example of swimming birds. They have webbed feet. In these feet fingers are joined with thin membrane, which help to push water during summing. Ducks are good swimmers but they walk slowly.
Wading birds
Wading birds have long legs and wide spread toes which help to walk in shallow water and mud. Crane and Jacana are wading birds.
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