BEAK OF BIRDS

Class – IV

SUB :- EVS

Jainendra ChouhanK. V. No. – 1, AFSJodhpur

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.

WH

Beaks to Eats Activity

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!