Beak MorphologyAdvanced Biology – Spring 2013

Beaks

Beaks• Also called “bills”.

Beaks• Also called “bills”.• Main function: eating/feeding.

Beaks• Also called “bills”.• Main function: eating/feeding.• Also:

Beaks• Also called “bills”.• Main function: eating/feeding.• Also:• Courtship.

Beaks• Also called “bills”.• Main function: eating/feeding.• Also:• Courtship.• Nesting.

Beaks• Also called “bills”.• Main function: eating/feeding.• Also:• Courtship.• Nesting.• Competition (rarely).

Beaks• Also called “bills”.• Main function: eating/feeding.• Also:• Courtship.• Nesting.• Competition (rarely).

• Come in MANY shapes and sizes.

Beaks• Also called “bills”.• Main function: eating/feeding.• Also:• Courtship.• Nesting.• Competition (rarely).

• Come in MANY shapes and sizes.

Beak Morphology

Beak Morphology

• Beaks tell us what the bird eats and where it lives.

Beak Morphology

• Beaks tell us what the bird eats and where it lives.• This helps biologists identify, classify, and track birds

Beak Morphology

• Beaks tell us what the bird eats and where it lives.• This helps biologists identify, classify, and track birds• The scientific idea of Form vs. Function:

Beak Morphology

• Beaks tell us what the bird eats and where it lives.• This helps biologists identify, classify, and track birds• The scientific idea of Form vs. Function:

• Form vs. function: • That a shape and composition of a structure will tell us

what the organism eats, where it lives, and how it lives.

Beak Morphology

• Beaks tell us what the bird eats and where it lives.• This helps biologists identify, classify, and track birds• The scientific idea of Form vs. Function:

• Form vs. function: • That a shape and composition of a structure will tell us

what the organism eats, where it lives, and how it lives.• This helps us compare one species vs. another.

Beak Morphology

• Beaks tell us what the bird eats and where it lives.• This helps biologists identify, classify, and track birds• The scientific idea of Form vs. Function:

• Form vs. function: • That a shape and composition of a structure will tell us

what the organism eats, where it lives, and how it lives.• This helps us compare one species vs. another. • This helps us compare and contrast different

organisms.

Beak Morphology

• Beak Type: CRACKER• Form: SHORT, THICK, CONICAL• Function: CRACKING SEEDS

Beak Morphology

• Beak Type: POUCHED• Form: LARGE, LONG WITH POUCH• Function: FISHING!

Beak Morphology

• Beak Type: PROBING• Form: LONG, THIN, SLENDER• Function: FEEDING IN SAND / FLOWERS

Beak Morphology

• Beak Type: SPEAR• Form: LONG, THICK, POINTY• Function: FISHING

Beak Morphology

• Beak Type: STRAINER• Form: LONG, FLAT, ROUNDED• Function: STRAIN ORGANISMS FROM WATER

Beak Morphology

• Beak Type: CHISEL• Form: LONG, THICK, POINTED• Function: BORING INTO WOOD FOR INSECTS

Beak Morphology

• Beak Type: SHREDDING• Form: LARGE, SHARP, CURVED• Function: TEARING FLESH

Beak Morphology

• Beak Type: CURVED• Form: LARGE, CURVED, POINTY• Function: CUTTING INTO FOOD, CRACKING

SEEDS

Beak Morphology

• Beak Type: TWEEZER• Form: THIN, SLEDER, POINTED• Function: INSECT CATCHING