Download Woodpeckers have strong beaks which taper to the tip, forming a

BEAK OF BIRDS
Class – IV
SUB :- EVS
Jainendra Chouhan
K. V. No. – 1, AFS
Jodhpur
Hummingbirds have
long, tubular bills
that resemble straws,
which they use to sip
nectar from flowers
Woodpecker
Woodpeckers have strong
beaks which taper to the tip,
forming a chisel for pecking
holes in trees for food or
nests. Most feed on insects
which live under the bark.
The edges of a Mallard's bill are
fringed to filtering out animal or
plant material from the water.
The combs on the sides of the
bill catch the food which is then
removed with the tongue and
swallowed.
Flamingo
Flamingos feed in much the same
way as ducks, by taking in a
mouthful of water, closing the bill,
and forcing the water out by
pushing with their tongue. Small
shrimps and other animals are
caught in the comb-like
structures on the sides of the bill.
A cone shaped bill is
found in many birds
such as finches and
grosbeaks. It is a
strong beak used for
cracking seeds.
Blue-winged Warbler,
Thin, slender, pointed
beaks are found mainly
in insect eaters. They are
used to pick insects off
leaves, twigs, and bark.
This warbler is a
good example.
Merganser
Mergansers (a diving fish
eating duck) specialized
for eating fish, have sharp
tooth-like structures on the
edge of the bill to hold fish
tightly.
Hawks, owls, and other birds
of prey which catch and kill
live prey have sharp, "hooked"
beaks. These are used to bite
the skull or neck and also to
tear the body into pieces small
enough to swallow.
Since birds have no teeth they either swallow
the food whole, or bite, crack, or tear it into
bite-sized pieces. They often hold the food
with their feet as they work at it with the bill.
Birds prepare the food before eating by
removing hulls from seeds or inedible parts
from prey. Instead of chewing their food, they
swallow it in pieces and it is ground up in
their gizzard. The gizzard is a muscular organ
just past the stomach. It has a hard, ridged
inner surface. Birds swallow sand, and small
stones. These stay in the gizzard and are
ground against the food to break it up.
Skimmer
The Skimmer, has probably one of
the strangest bills. They feed by
flying just above the surface of the
water with the open knife-like lower
jaw cutting through the water.
When a fish is encountered the jaw
snaps shut.
Flycatcher
Beaks which are flat and wide at the
base are found in birds which catch
insects in flight, such as flycatchers.
These birds also often have whiskers
at the corners of the mouth, which
effectively widens the mouth
opening, allowing more effective
capture of prey.
Long-billed Curlew
This Long-billed Curlew, like other
shorebirds, has a long narrow bill
for probing in mud and sand for
insects and worms. The tip of the
bill is very sensitive so the bird can
feel when it touches its food. In
some of these birds the tip of the
bill can open to grab the food even
when the rest of the bill stays shut.
What's for Dinner?
Draw a line from each bird beak on the left to the type of food
that each bird eats on the right.
CURVY BEAKS
I. Match the bird's beak with the kind of food it eats
________1. Hammering into trees
________2. Grabbing small animals
________3. Cracking seeds
________4. Straining food from the lake bottom
________5. Sipping nectar from flowers
Find and circle the birds that do
not have hooked beaks. If
successful, you will have found
the non-raptors hanging out with
those curvy beaked birds of prey!