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Tag: Bird Anatomy

Bird Anatomy: Eye Rings

Posted on November 17, 2023 by Kayla Fisk

A bird’s anatomy can be highly variable, from the broadest being body shape, color, bill, wings and feet. Down in more minute features that can often get overlooked. When drawing, we are always told the eye is the most important feature that you want to stand out. But how often do you notice the intricate…

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Finch Beaks

Posted on March 8, 2023 by Kayla Fisk

Even within the same family, related species can have a vastly different appearance. One of the parts of a bird that can vary is their beaks, since the shape has evolved around their primary food source. One group that this can be seen in are finches. Pine siskins, a small boreal finch, have thin beaks,…

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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…

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Bird Anatomy: Gonys

Posted on January 4, 2023January 4, 2023 by Kayla Fisk

A bird’s beak can have different components to it depending on the species or bird family.  On gull species, where the two lateral plates of the lower mandible connect towards the tip of the beak form a ridge or bulge called the gonydeal expansion. This bulge also causes a bump out on the lower mandible…

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Bird Anatomy: Beak

Posted on December 15, 2022December 16, 2022 by Kayla Fisk

In a previous blog post I went over some of the many different shapes a bird’s beak may have and how they are adapted to their diet, but I never went over what parts of a bird’s beak actually are. They are an important part of the topography of a bird and to truly appreciate…

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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….

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Bird Anatomy: Supraorbital Ridge

Posted on March 18, 2022September 12, 2022 by Kayla Fisk

Birds of prey have excellent vision, they need it to be able to see prey from perched in a tree or soaring high above the ground. Though, something can get in the way of their vision, making it difficult to clearly see, especially when out in the open, and that is the sun. Many times…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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