-----Original Message-----
To:
From: David
Subject: Beaks?

My name is David and I am writing from Malta to seek some assistance from you. At school I have to make an assignment on Beaks of various types of birds, can you please send me some information/pictures on this subject.

Thank you in advance for your help,

Best Regards...............David.

Our Reply...

David:

Bird bills (beaks) are an interesting subject. The shape and size of the bill has developed for the particularly bird species because of environment, habitat and feeding requirements.

Most birds must use their wings for flying or swimming (Penguins,) and because of this the bill has had to become useful for many other tasks. The bill may be used for climbing, grasping, cracking, carrying, fighting and digging.

The bill consists of two parts, the upper and lower jaw or mandibles. The bill is covered with a layer of toughened skin that is replaced when needed because of ware.

Most birds have nostrils in the upper mandible. Some high diving birds like the Gannet do not have nostrils on the bill. If you have ever dived into water and gotten water up your nose you know why.

The bill is a tool that can have many uses. Here is a short list of food related uses: Catching food, prying up bark that conceals it, turning over sea weed washed up on the beach to find it, filtering it from water, killing it, carrying it, cutting it up.

Here are some additional bill uses: Preening (cleaning and arranging feathers on itself or others), nest building, excavating, egg turning, defending, attacking, displaying, snatching, hatching, climbing and so on.

There are several types of bills (beaks):

Short thick for seed eating. American Gold Finch

Long Pointed - piercing: The anhinga pierces or spears fish under water. Anhinga

Lower Jaw longer than upper for Skimming across the water for food. Black Skimmer

Short, slightly hooked at the tip for catching insects in flight. Purple Martin Female

Long with a rounded tip for feeling for food in water and mud. Roseate Spoonbill

Short, hooked strong for catching prey and tearing meat. Red-shouldered Hawk

Strong and pointed for prying bark and digging holes in wood. Red-bellied Woodpecker

Large pouch for scooping and filtering water. Brown Pelican

Moderate pointed for eating seeds and catching small prey. Common Grackle

Used for preening. Royal Tern

Turing over sea weed and small rocks. Ruddy Turnstone

Moderate length thick, soft for eating vegetation and small fish. Scaup

Long, pointed for eating seeds, insects, small vertebrates and invertebrates, grass shoots and small mammals. Sandhill Crane

	An excellent book on bird life is "The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior" by David Sibley ISBN: 0-679-45123-4 To see a description of the book visit the following webpage: The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior
	Another good book that has additional information on bird life is "The Birder's Handbook - A Field Guide to the Natural History of North american Birds" by Paul R. Ehrlich, David S. Dobkin and Darryl Wheye. ISBN: 0-671-65989-8. To see a description of the book visit the following webpage: The Birder's Handbook

I hope this has been of some help.

Thank you for visiting our website

Regards...

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