The right tool for the job

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...Or in this case, tool beak! For this week's SMAP contest, beaks/bills have the highlight!

Beaks in the different species have evolved in order to perform specific functions: some birds require short strong beaks, while others need a long and thin one. A closer look at this part of bird's anatomy will tell you a great deal of information, and can even help you in the identification! Take a look at these guys:


White-throated kingfisher - Halcyon smyrnensis

Kingfishers scout the waters for prey; when they see a possibility, they have to dive and catch a slippery fish in a fraction of a second. Can you imagine doing this with a short stubby beak? They need a long pointy beak, that has to be also strong and sharp to enter water at full speed!

This species is from Sri Lanka, but if you knew this species, and found this one overlooking the sea in Croatia, what would you think?


Eurasian kingfisher - Alcedo atthis

Just by looking at that beak you would probably guess it was a kingfisher, even if you didn't knew the species!

Want another example, even further away? Let's go to Indonesia!


Sacred kingfisher - Todiramphus sanctus

Notice the (lack of) differences? Different bodies, different colours... but the beak is almost identical!

Other species need a more multi-purposed beak; for example, species that have a big variety of diets, from fruits... to seafood!


Hooded crow - Corvus corax

The crow's beak fits the job perfectly; apart from the different diets, crows are very intelligent birds, and exploration is a big part of their habits.

Their beak evolved to serve as a tool to drag, pick up, explore crevices, dislodge stones... you name it!

These ones were roaming the beach near Split, in Croatia. Their beak almost served to explore the content of my backpack! Fortunately, they decided to focus more on their lunch.

So here you go, enough beaks for today. Let's see those entries! 🙂

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16 comments
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Are you a birdwatcher? I've seen movies and read books with birdwatchers but I have never met one. So if you are one of them, then I'm lucky to know you! Yay! 🙂

Great photos and interesting info! 🙂

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Yep, you know one for sure; started birdwatching more than 20 years ago, although I'm not even near a hardcore birdwatcher: I just love spotting wildlife. Actually, I think most birdwatchers are actually wildlifewatchers, but since birds are far less elusive than mammals and reptiles, those are the ones we go after! :)) Wildlife watching is one of my main mottos to travel, so if there is wildlife, be it in air, land, or underwater... count me in! Cheers! !BEER

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Cool that you have seen such a variety of kingfishers. I did some studying and there are a kingfishers here in Vermont I just need to seek out the right habitats. Looks like a project for next summer.

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They are amazing animals, but I believe some are sneakier than others. I've only seen the european one less then a handfull of times, and normally flying at high speed passing by. In Asia, they would perch for minutes on the same spot, posing for the photos!

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Kingfidhers are great example for how to id them by the beaks. They are amazing birds. A friend of mine went with her husband fishing and told me how a kingfisher landed on their fishing rod. 🙂

Great shots as always!

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Crows are so exceptionally intelligent waiting to collect any morsel they can find, also very inquisitive.

Lovely collection across borders with the Kingfisher, first photo in Sri Lanka has a heavy beak compared to the others.

!BEER

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Good eye for details! There are slight changes in the beak indeed, and I think there's another species there with an even larger beak, that I couldn't see. Maybe on next visit! 😉 !BEER

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Must be evolution to feed on slightly different offerings in regions. Weight of beak one wonders if it becomes something to consider in flight. Have a great day and happy bird watching! !LOLZ

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