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Chapter 11 Beaaknsd claws

Beaks
Instead of teeth, birds have beaks also called bills. There are different kinds of birds
and they all have different kind of beaks. Their beaks are suited to the kind of food they
eat. Beaks are not only used for ea ng but also used for other purposes. The birds use
their beaks to smoothen and clean their feathers by applying oil from their oil glands.
This is called preening. Their beak helps them in collec ng twigs to build their nest.
They use their beaks to peck, fight, hold their food and look for their food in the
ground, in water or in soil.

Types of beaks
Can you imagine an eagle trying to eat a mouse
using a duck's bill? That would be quite
impossible! Rather, eagles, hawks and other meat
eaters have strong, sharp, hooked beaks
designed for tearing flesh.

Apply a drop of oil at the base of a small sec on of
your hair. Now run a thin comb several mes
through it. You will find that the en re sec on of
your hair become oily from top to bo om. This is
what happens in preening! A duck's bill is flat with
teeth-like edges for straining food out of water. A
duck has a broad and flat beak like a shovel. It
scoops the muddy water with it. The mud and water
flow out through the holes on the sides. The li le
plants and insects from the muddy water stay inside the beak for the duck to eat.

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