Look at a bird's beak. Is it long or short? Hooked or straight? The shape is a clue to what the bird eats. Every animal's body parts help it get food, move or stay safe.
Key idea
Beaks, teeth, claws, feet, fins and shells each have a shape that fits a job.
Why it works
A long, thin beak reaches deep into a flower, like a straw. A hooked beak tears meat. Webbed feet push water like paddles. Fins and a tail push a fish through the water. A turtle's hard shell keeps it safe.
Worked example: Let's think it through
A bird has a short, thick, strong beak. What does it most likely eat?
- A thick, strong beak can crack hard things, like a nutcracker.
- Seeds have hard shells.
- Many finches and sparrows have beaks like this.
Answer: Seeds.
Common mistake
Children often think all beaks or all teeth are the same. Look at the shape and ask what it could do: tear, grind, crack, sip or spear?
For the grown-up. At a bird feeder or a park, look closely at beaks and feet. Ask: what could that shape be good for? Then watch the bird eat to see if you were right.