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Why do birds have beaks? |
All animals are built with special, unique features that help them to survive and give them the advantages they need! When it comes to birds, one of these cool features is the beak!
A bird’s beak (also sometimes called its bill) is the bird’s version of a jaw. Other animals have jawbones and teeth, which are heavy. Because they need to weigh as little as possible (so they can fly!) birds have lightweight beaks, instead!
Birds also have beaks because it helps them to eat. Have you ever noticed that there are lots and lots of different shapes of bird beaks?? Each bird has a beak suited to what it munches on! For example, a bird with a long, pointy beak (like a hummingbird) needs this beak shape to get nectar from flowers. Other birds with beaks that are short are more likely to eat seeds or insects, while birds with very strong beaks might need to crack nuts to eat! – Neat!!
Beak of the week!
- A bird’s beak will continue to grow for its whole life! Because the tip of the beak gets worn down from use, it needs to constantly be growing and replacing itself!
- Because birds don’t have teeth, they don’t chew food. Instead, they sometimes use their beaks to tear things into pieces.
- Birds might not have noses like we do, but most still have two nostrils! The nostrils are located right near the spot where the upper part of the beak meets the head. Have you ever noticed them before??
- “Bird Adaptations – Beaks.” Virtual Teacher Aide. Educator’s Reference Desk. 05 May 2010
- “Birds – K8 Principles of Aeronautics, Aerodynamics of Animals.” 2001. NASA Learning Technologies Project and Cislunar Aerospace, Inc. 05 May 2010
- “The Bird Bill or Beak.” Bird Anatomy. Earthlife.net. 05 May 2010
- “Bird Beaks: Anatomy, Care, and Diseases.” Veterinary & Aquatic Services Department. Doctors Foster & Smith PetEducation.com. 05 May 2010