Beak Facilitates Different Feeding
Eons of time evolution has designed certain species with beaks to adapt to surroundings, food source of their preference or in regions where they arrived.
Probing/Wading/Sifting - Saddle-billed stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) Tallest Stork in the World, egrets, hammerkop, goose, grebe, plover, pelican, sandpiper, tern, duck plus a few more. Enjoy wetlands, beaches, rivers finding food to the beat of their foot lifting larvae, crustations, shrimps, sand-hoppers sometimes a small fish.
Remote-touch of the Hadeda ibis slowly developed from around the dinosaur days with sensitive snouts assisting procedure now thought to be connected to kiwi, ostrich, rhea, emu birds, sand pipers. Remote-touch is basically being able feel vibrations finding food, known as Paleognath Beaks. Research Source
Curved Hornbill is my example here omnivorous bird that eats fruit, insects and small animals. Curved beak with narrow tip and short tongue means the wallop the food back with a quick jerk of the head.
Crushing beaks I would immediately think of birds feeding on seed, the dove, pigeon, finches, weavers to name a few, ability to work the seed in such a way to crack open obtaining the delicacy within.
Chiselling beaks look no further than the barbets and woodpeckers busy at work, we hear them amazed they don't fall out the tree with headaches, they achieve much with protected nests in tree trunks. Feed quite comfortably on fruit, insects, nuts, seeds, depending on which bird species Woodpeckers primarily inectivorous with Barbets primarily frugivorous.
Piercing/Tearing - Owls, eagles, vultures, kites, hawks, harriers, falcons join the party with sharp talons to catch prey before ripping it apart to enjoy the meal of the day. Commonly known at birds of prey, some enjoy carrion, others lift snakes, hares, small antelope, fish each to it's own tasty meal.
Thanks for visiting BIRDS - Beaks/Bills feathered friends, entry to #SMAP No. 104 Contest with host @nelinoeva Beaks/Bills
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All photography is my own. Any queries or requests please drop a comment below or make contact with me, have a wonderful day! Photography without tripod, go with the flow wherever life takes you. NB: Amateur photographer and bird watcher, keep smiling!
Thought for Today: "If your only tool is a hammer, you will see every problem as a nail." - African Proverb
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