The feathers of birds are among the most stunning kinds of animals on Earth. The long, curved beaks of certain birds aid to find food more easily and also make them appear more appealing than other birds. Here is a list of the top 10 birds with stunning beaks.
Curlew Long Billed
Long-billed curlews are the longest shorebird that is found in North America, also called sickle birds. The 8.6-inch long bill in a 26 inches body is the primary attraction for this kind of bird. The bill is long and curved downwards and has a large neck and a long neck. Female birds have a larger bills than male birds.
The long bill assisted them to catch crabs and shrimps from the tidal flats. They are also a food source for earthworms and grasshoppers. Long-billed curlews build nests in dry areas with grass, pebbles, stems, and twigs, as well as seeds. The chicks leave the nest shortly after hatching.
Atlantic Puffin
Atlantic puffins are a stunning species of seabird found in the Atlantic ocean. They sport a vibrant beak with a triangular shape, the tip that is closest to the beak is orange with a tinge of red, and the half closest to the head is slate gray. Only adults Atlantic puffins sport such wide bills. Younger birds are at this stage, and the upper edge of the curve of the bill is formed.
Atlantic puffins are penguin-like creatures and are referred to as clowns of the sea. They spend the majority of their lives in the ocean and are able to lie down in the waves. With their wings, they also swim underwater, diving to 200 meters in depth, and are able to catch a variety of fish at once using a wide beak. The feathers are waterproof, allowing them to remain wary while floating in the ocean.
Black Skimmer
The distinctive long beak of the black skimmer makes them distinct from other shorebirds, which are indigenous in North as well as South America. The bill is lengthy but thin. The lower mandible is larger than its upper mandible. The portion of the bill closest to the head is dark orange, while the area closest to its tip is dark black.
The bill’s unique shape can aid in the search for food. The bill drags the lower bill when they glide across the surface of the water, helping them catch small fish quickly. Skimmers of black usually consume large numbers of fish, traveling for 5 miles to search for food.
American White Pelican
The largest aquatic bird in the world, a native of Central as well as South America. It grows to a height of 70 inches, and its massive beak is 15.2 inches. The lower mandibles of American white pelicans function as filters, helping in catching fish and also filtering the water.
In the breeding season, their bill is deeper in color, with vibrant orange hues. In addition, a distinctive horn is also seen in the upper part of the bill of American white pelicans during the breeding season. This kind of horn is seen in other species of pelican.
Spoonbill Roseate
The unique spoon-like beak is the reason for this popular name for the bird. Their bills are long and flattened. They are abundantly found on Caribbean beaches, Central America, and Mexico.
This wading bird utilizes their beaks specially designed to capture the food items like tiny invertebrates and fishes. Their long, slender legs the roseate spoonbill enable them to walk easily in water. The bright pink color feathers make the species more attractive.
Shoe Bill
The shoe bill is a prehistoric look of a high-flying bird indigenous to Africa. The enormous shoe-shaped bill is the primary attraction of this bird which is also the reason for the designation. The bill is bulbous and the bird grows to 9.4 inches and has grayish markings. Mandibles’ sharp edges assist them in catching prey with ease.
The bill also has a hook that is sharp on the end of the bill that will easily penetrate any prey. Fishes are the main food source of shoe bills. They also consume frogs and snails, water snakes, and turtles.
Flamingo
Flamingos are huge pink-colored birds that are found in saline and alkaline lakes across the globe. Similar to the color of feathers, the distinctive shape of their beak is what makes flamingos unique among different species of birds. Their bent bill acts as a filter and helps catch small fish as well as larvae and plankton from mud. The bill’s color is black at the tip and pale orange in the area near the head.
Flamingos were known to feed in large flocks and, as a result, they can frighten other flamingos who are buried in the mud while searching of food. They are also seen in colonies during breeding. Flamingos also are born in grey colors and change to a pale shade after two years.
Keel-Billed Toucan
Keel-billed Toucan, also known as “rainbow billed toucan” because of the large, colorful bill that is native to South America. Their bill grows to 20 centimeters which is about one-third of its length. It’s among the brightest beaks around the world. They can see various colors, however, then it is green in color and is believed to be common in nearly all areas.
The length of the bill of the toucan with keel bills doesn’t affect the body’s balance as it’s very light but extremely robust. They generally consume fruits and berries They also enjoy having insects, lizards, and even small Frogs.
Great Hornbill
Great hornbills are one of the biggest members of the Hornbill family that originates from Southeast Asia. They are yellow-colored and have a curly huge bill, and the black and yellow mix casque on top of the bill is a prominent characteristic of the great bill.
The casque that is on top of the bill is concave with no purpose other than sexual selection. In breeding season, great hornbills are also known for their loud duets and rapid mix of barks and roars.
Rhinoceros Hornbill
The rhinoceros hornbill has an upward curve casque that is on its bill, similar to the rhino horn, which is native to the rain forests in Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore. The largest casque in the horn family and is also the reason why they have this name. Males’ casques are a bit bigger than females.
It took about six years to complete the growth of the casque that covers the bill of rhinoceros horn. The casque also helps amplify its sounds, becoming so loud that they can be heard all over the forest.
