Birds have numerous characteristics that make them so striking within the animal kingdom. One of them is the presence of a horny beak that forms the outer part of the mouth of these animals. Unlike other vertebrate animals, birds do not have teeth and their beak is one of the many adaptations that allows them to be so successful in different environments.
In turn, there are many forms that the beak can take and, contrary to what we might think, the beak is not unique to birds, as it is found in other groups of animals (each with its own characteristics), such as turtles (Testudines), platypuses (Monotremata), octopuses, squids and cuttlefish (Octopoda). Continue reading this article on our site and we will tell you about the characteristics and types of bird beaks.
Characteristics of the beak of birds
Birds have different adaptations in their bodies and one of them is the structure of their beak in terms of its evolution according to the type of food they have, as well as their digestive system. The size, shape and how strong the beak is will directly affect the bird's feeding In addition, the dimensions of the beak may vary slightly, which can also influence the the rate of food intake.
The bill, in turn, together with the length of the legs and other body aspects, allows birds to explore different environments and resourcesIn addition to its shape being conditioned by its feeding, the beak is also used by the males of some species to attract the female , for example, the toucans
As we mentioned, the beak forms the external structure of the mouth of birds and, like the rest of the vertebrates, it is composed of a lower and upper jaw or mandible, which is called the culmen and is covered by a stratum corneum (covered by keratin) called ranphotheca. This structure is what you see on the outside and, furthermore, it has an interior structure that supports it from the inside.
In addition to the beak of the birds, you may be interested in learning a little more about the characteristics of these animals in this other article on Characteristics of birds
What are the types of bird beaks?
Beaks have a great variation in terms of shape, so within the types of birds, we find, among others:
- Curved and hooked (common in birds of prey).
- Spear-shaped (typical of some fishing waterfowl).
- Long and thin (some waders or insectivorous birds)
- Thick and short (present in granivorous birds).
In addition, within these categories we can find generalist birds that are more practical in terms of obtaining food and whose beak does not have a very specific way. On the other hand, specialist birds have a very particular diet as well as the shape of their beak, which can have a very specialized structure, as in the case of some hummingbirds.
Within the specialist birds, we can find a wide variety of shapes. Next, we will name the main groups.
Beaks of granivorous birds (or seed consumers)
These birds have quite a short but robust beak that allows them to open hard-coated seeds, so these birds are very specialized. Some of these species, such as the sparrow (Passer domesticus), for example, have a short, conical beak that allows them to grasp and break the seeds, purpose which it achieves because, in addition, the edges of the beak are somewhat sharp.
Other granivores have a beak whose specialization is extreme, as is the case of the crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) which, as its name indicates, has its mandible and maxilla intertwinedThis shape is due to the almost exclusive diet it has, since it feeds on the cones (or fruits) of conifers, from which it extracts the seeds thanks to its beak.
On the other hand, for example, in the family Fringillidae there are many granivorous species, whose beaks are robust and thick, such as the case of the common goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) and the Taysan drumstick (Telespiza cantans), whose beak is very robust and strong, and their jaws are slightly crossed.
Carnivorous Bird Beaks
These birds feed on other birds and other animals or carrion, they have sharp beaks with hooked jaws, since that this allows them to tear the flesh of their prey and not escape when captured, as in the case of diurnal and nocturnal birds of prey (eagles, falcons, owls, etc.).
It can also be long and strong beaks, as in some waterfowl that have wide and very large beaks with which they fish large quantities of fish, such as the pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) or the shoebill (Balaeniceps rex), with a huge beak that ends in a sharp hook and with which it can capture other birds, such as ducks.
Vultures also have beaks adapted to tearing meat, although they are scavengers, thanks to their sharp and cutting edges they can open its prey.
Another beak adapted to consume animal prey is that of the toucan. Although these birds are associated with eating fruits (which they also include in their diet), they can capture the chicks of other birds or small vertebrates thanks to their powerful and serrated beaks
Frugivorous bird beaks
Fruit-eating birds have short, curved beaks, but with sharp points that allow them to open the fruit, and some Sometimes they also feed on seeds. For example, many parrots, macaws and parakeets (order Psittaciformes) have very robust beaks ending in sharp points, with which they can open large fleshy fruits and also extract the edible parts of the seeds.
As we mentioned, toucans (order Piciformes), with their large serrated beaks like teeth, can eat large fruits and thick covers.
Other smaller species, such as blackbirds (genus Turdus), warblers (Sylvia) or some bush turkeys (Crax fasciolata, for example) have larger beaks short and small with edges that also have “teeth” that allow them to eat fruits.
Insectivorous Bird Beaks
The beaks of birds that feed on insects are characterized by being thin and elongated There are some variations within this category, for For example, woodpeckers (order Piciformes) have fine and very strong beaks that resemble a chisel with which they poke the bark of trees in search of insects that inhabit it. These birds also have skulls fully adapted to receive strong blows.
Other species hunt insects in flight and their beaks are thin and somewhat curved, like that of the bee-eater (Merops apiaster), or small and somewhat straighter, such as the robin (Erithacus rubecula) or the blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus). Others have bills that are more flattened, short and wide, such as swifts (order Apodiformes) and swallows (Passeriformes), which are aerial hunters.
In this other article we discover other Animals that eat insects - Examples and curiosities.
Warder Beaks
These birds are generally aquatic or live near it, since they obtain their food from flooded areas. They have long, thin and quite flexible bills that allow them to dip the tip of the bill into water or sand and forage for food(small molluscs, larvae, etc.) leaving the eyes outside, without the need to submerge the entire head, as is done, for example, by sandpiper, snipe and phalaropes (Scolopacidae).
Other bills adapted for this function are long and flattened, such as that of the spoonbills (Platalea ajaja), which wades in the waters shallow in search of food.
Nectarivorous Bird Beaks
This type of beak is exclusively adapted for sipping nectar from flowers The beaks of nectar-eating birds are very thin and elongated, in tube-shaped Some species take this adaptation to the extreme, as they have extremely long beakswhich allows them to access flowers that other species cannot. An example of this is the sword-billed hummingbird (Ensifera ensifera), whose beak is extremely long and curved upwards.
However, there are different types of hummingbirds with different beaks, so we encourage you to read this other article on Types of hummingbirds.
Filter Bird Beaks
Here are species that also inhabit areas flooded with water and whose beaks can be of various shapes. They have certain adaptations that allow them to filter food from the water and, in general, they have broad, downward-curving beaksFor example, flamingos (order Phoenicopteriformes) have a great adaptation for this function. Its beak is not asymmetrical, since the upper jaw is smaller than the lower one, and it is the one that has mobility. In addition, it is somewhat curved downwards and has lamellae where the food it filters is retained.
Other filter-feeding birds, such as ducks (order Anseriformes), have wider, flatter bills which also have lamellae to filter the water food. In addition, these birds can also consume fish, so their beaks are equipped with small "teeth" that allow them to hold them when they catch them.