Canada geese have tooth-like cartilage ridges on their beaks to help pull up vegetation and plants.
Crested couas, from Madagascar, have black adult beaks; chicks have colorful markings inside their beaks that fade with maturity.
Toucans possess the largest bird bills at 7.5 inches, used for reaching fruit and mating rituals. Their lightweight yet strong beaks absorb impact, aiding survival.
The black skimmer has a distinctive bill with a longer lower mandible, aiding in feeding by skimming water for small fish.
The American white pelican has a huge bill, nearly 18 inches long, for catching fish and excreting salt. In spring, it grows a hornlike plate, shed after laying eggs.
Read Now