Skip to content
Menu
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • World of Birds
  • About
  • Contact
Menu

Podcast

Learn About Birds

Explore Bird Species

Tag: bird adaptations

Bird Feet: Zygodactyl

Posted on January 18, 2023 by Kayla Fisk

Not all bird feet are alike, even toe shape and placement can vary. One example of different toe alignment seen in birds is being zygodactyl, where two toes face forward and the other two face backwards. This can be seen in species such as woodpeckers, parrots and owls. This arrangement of toes is perfect for…

Read more

Bird Adaptations: Woodpecker’s Tail

Posted on January 15, 2023 by Kayla Fisk

When you see a woodpecker, they are typically clinging onto the bark of a tree or branches, usually using their tail to prop themselves up. This position would typically put a lot of pressure and wear on their longest tail feathers. Because of this risk of increased damage to these feathers, they have a special…

Read more

Bird Adaptations: Ocelli

Posted on April 16, 2022September 12, 2022 by Kayla Fisk

While out hiking in a field, you spot a little american kestrel in a telephone wire. Its back is to you and you notice an interesting pattern on the back of its head, which appears to resemble eyes. These feather patterns aren’t eyes though, they are called ocelli, or false eye spots. This adaptation can…

Read more

Bird Anatomy: Nictitating Membrane

Posted on April 8, 2022September 12, 2022 by Kayla Fisk

For birds to survive, they need keen eyesight, to find food, to navigate their environment, find a mate and avoiding becoming something else’s meal. So it is critical to protect their eyes, especially when flying through the air and through vegetation where there is an increased risk of something hitting their eyes and causing abrasions….

Read more

Bird Anatomy: Lamellae

Posted on March 5, 2022September 12, 2022 by Kayla Fisk

If you look at the bills of some duck species, you may see it lined with fine comb-like structures. These little projections are called lamellae and are made of keratin. These slightly flexible structures are used to filter and strain food from mud or water. These structures will be seen mostly in dabbling ducks along…

Read more

Bird Anatomy: Tomial Tooth

Posted on February 25, 2022September 12, 2022 by Kayla Fisk

The tomial tooth, or the mandibular tomia, is not really a tooth at all, but a projection that can be seen in the outer edge on beaks of falcons, kites, and shrikes. This “tooth”  also corresponds with a divot on the lower bill, called the mandibular notch; these together act like a pair of scissors…

Read more

Bird Anatomy: Ear Tufts

Posted on February 23, 2022September 11, 2022 by Kayla Fisk

In the bird world, if you say ear tufts, you would probably instantly think of the ear tufts on owls. This feature is found on many owl species, about 50 of the 200 plus owl species have ear tufts, seemingly mostly occurring in nocturnal, forest dwelling species. But there are many other species that possess…

Read more

How Do Birds Survive Winter?

Posted on February 21, 2022September 11, 2022 by Kayla Fisk

Winter can be a tough time for birds, from even the simplest of daily tasks becoming a bigger challenge during this time of year. From finding food, to avoiding becoming food for someone else, to just trying to stay warm in temperatures that could drop into the negatives. But birds are resourceful and have adapted…

Read more

Bird Anatomy: Pectinate Claw, The Built-in Comb

Posted on February 18, 2022September 11, 2022 by Kayla Fisk

Feather quality is important for a bird’s survival, it provides insulation and flight to name a few. Keeping these feathers in top condition is crucial for their survival. To do this, birds spend lots of time preening, but it can be difficult to reach feathers around their face. Some species will have others of its…

Read more

Social

RSS
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
©2023 | Design by Superb