This document discusses different types of beak modifications in birds and provides examples for each type. It identifies 12 main types of beak modifications: 1) seed eating, 2) cutting and biting, 3) fruit eating, 4) insectivorous, 5) wood chiseling, 6) tearing and piercing, 7) fish catching, 8) mud probing, 9) water and mud straining, 10) spatulate, 11) pouched, and 12) flower probing. Each type is defined by its use and characteristic shape, and examples of birds that exemplify that type of beak modification are given.
Objectives
• Types ofbeak modifications in birds
• Examples of birds with beak modification
3.
Introduction
• Birds- absenceof teeth
• Modified jaw bones – beak
• Covered with sheath- Rhamphotheca
• Beak = Fore Limb + Teeth
• Variations - depending on food type and
functions
4.
1. Seed eatingbeak
• Strong, stout, short, conical
• Broad at base & pointed at tip
• Crushes large hard shelled seeds & fruits
• Gram eating birds
Small conical beak
Type Use ExampleShape
Wood
Chiseling
Drilling into
wood
Wood pecker Long , straight,
chisel like
Tearing &
Piercing
Carnivorous
birds
Eagle, Hawk,
Owl, Vulture,
Kites
Short, hooked
, sharp
Fish
catching
Capture fish
frog, toads
etc
Heron,
Kingfisher,
Darter,
Cormorant
Sharply
pointed , saw
like
Mud
Probing
Catching
flying insect
Lapwing, Sand
piper, Stilt,
Snipes
Long , slender
22.
9. Water &mud straining
• Edges of jaws- modified into Horney serrations
or transverse lamellae
• Acts as sieves or strainer
• Example: flamingo – curved , downward &
with transverse lamellae
10. Spatulate
• Flattenedbeak
• Terminate in broad spoon
• Dabbling in water & mud for
insects, fish, worm etc.
• Example: spoon bill
25.
11. Pouched
• Attachedto lower mandible
• Acts as fishing net
• Pouch like extensile skin
• Example: pelican
26.
12. Flower Probing
•Feeds on nectar of
flower
• Long , pointed
• beak are bent a/c
to flower shape
• Can dive down to
corolla of flower
• Example: Humming
Bird
27.
Type Use ExampleShape
Water &
mud
straining
Straining food
from mud
&water
Duck, Geese,
Flamingo
Broad ,flat,
transverse
lamellae
Spatulate Dabbling into
water & mud
Spoon bill Flat, spoon
shape
Pouched Acts as fishing
net
Pelican Pouch like
extension
Flower
Probing
Nectar of
flower
Humming
bird
Long ,pointed