Peak . Main organ for obtaining food , as it serves to catch it, manipulate it, break it and swallow it. It is formed by the skeleton of both jaws , covered by a horny sheath, the ranphotheca, which is what is observed externally. It has different shapes and sizes depending on the diet of each animal .
Summary
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- 1 Parts of the beak
- 2 Classification of Birds according to their beak
- 3 Peak function
- 4 Sources
beak parts
Depending on the bird’s eating habit, the beak varies not only in shape but also in size and thickness. There are very thin and long beaks, ideal for reaching very narrow and long places, as in the case of hummingbirds . Others are short but quite thick and sturdy specialized for holding large prey tightly. There are also very small ones, typical of birds that feed on small insects or generally on seeds .
The shape of the beak can be hook-shaped, conical, flattened, among others, the truth is that they are specialized tools to perform a particular function. The general structure of the beak is determined by the type of food that the bird consumes, and its modifications are based on the size, shape and attached structures. It is formed by: Tomios, Culmen, Nostril, Gonis, Ramas, Ceres, Tomial tooth
Classification of Birds according to their beak
Granivorous bird sparrow
According to experts, there are more than 9,000 species of birds distributed throughout the world and, precisely, this characteristic forces them (as well as the rest of the planet ‘s inhabitants ) to adapt to the environment in which they are immersed in order to survive.
insectivorous bird nightingale
In addition to size, the agility to fly or jump and the color of their plumage, birds also have different types of beaks, which respond to the feeding needs of each animal .
Depending on the type of beak, Birds are classified into:
- surface examiners.
- Granivores (they are the ones that feed on different types of grains)
- Insectivores (their diet is based on the consumption of insects)
- Nectarivores (are those that extract nectar from flowers)
- Fisherwomen
- Trawling fisherwomen (they use their beak to produce a dragging effect of everything in the waterto capture their prey)
- Raptors (they have a hooked beak to pierce meat)
- Seeds (diet based on the intake of different types of seeds)
peak function
Birds have several tools that make them a very particular animal species and important for ecosystems . One of these tools is their horny structure or beak that serves them not only to feed, but also to fulfill their pollinating function, for the work of building their nests , for defense, for cleaning, and also to conquer their partner.
In addition, this tool is very useful when it comes to conquering, the males of some bird species have a very striking colorful beak, in order to attract the attention of the females. So you can tell a male from a female by the coloration of her bill, a common example being the Silver-billed Cardinal . The male has a white spot on his beak that makes it unmistakable, while the female’s beak is black without any distinctive.
The construction of the nests is not an easy task, and it could not be carried out without this tool, some birds have special beaks to pierce hard surfaces, such as dry wood , in the case of the woodpecker . And when there is no need to pierce surfaces, they also serve as scissors to cut small dry branches while facilitating the transfer of material from the collection site to the construction site.
Another important function of this corneal structure is pollination . Thanks to this structure, birds can actively participate in the genetic variability of plants and seed dispersal , key aspects in the functioning of an ecosystem . An also important aspect in the life of birds is the grooming of their plumage, for this they have their beak, with which they can deworm themselves and organize their plumage for an effective conquest.
