# All About Beaks

- Source: StoryWeaver (storyweaver.org.in), CC BY, Pratham Books, StoryWeaver, CC BY 4.0
- Reading level: Grades 1 and 2
- Subjects: Birds, Animals
- Topics: beaks, beak, fish, long, water, catch
- Length: 240 words, about 2 min
- By: Rohan Dahotre
- Original: <https://storyweaver.org.in/en/stories/366151-all-about-beaks>
- Page: <https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/r/storyweaver/all-about-beaks>
- Open in Sprouts: <https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/?read=storyweaver/all-about-beaks>

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Drilling beak

Fishing beak

Colourful beak

Grain-crushing beak

Spoon beak

Filter beak

Nutcracker beak

Sound-amplifier beak

Needle beak

Sword beak

Pouch beak

Storage beak

**More About Beaks**

**Woodpeckers** have strong, sharp beaks.

With these beaks they drill holes in trees to make nests, and also to find insects to eat.

**Kingfishers** have long, pointed beaks, which do not disturb the water surface when they dive in to catch fish.

**Toucans** use their colourful beaks to show off their beauty as well as for self-defence.

**Sparrows’** cone-shaped beaks are stubby but sharp. They are capable of crushing seeds in a very strong grip.

**Spoonbills** use their long, flat, rounded beaks to search for fish, amphibians and crabs along the bottom of muddy water.

**Flamingos’** bent beaks help them filter out very small plankton, tiny fish and fly larvae from shallow, muddy water.

**Parrots** use their hook-like beaks for cracking open hard nuts.

**Hornbills** have unique helmet-like structures on their beaks which help their call travel farther by making the sound boom louder.

**Sunbirds** have long, curved beaks that point downward. They use their beaks to reach nectar, small spiders and insects deep inside flowers.

**Hummingbirds** have very long, thin beaks with which they probe deep into flowers for nectar.

**Pelicans** scoop up fish in their beak pouches. The water drains out, and the fish are swallowed.

**Puffins** can catch and carry a bunch of fish at a time in their beaks.

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## Picture credits

- Rohan Dahotre, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/73376-toucan-and-hornbill-and-hummingbird-and-kingfisher>)
- Rohan Dahotre, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/73644-woodpecker-drilling-a-hole-in-a-tree>)
- Rohan Dahotre, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/73378-kingfisher-perches-on-a-tree-with-a-fish-in-its-beak>)
- Rohan Dahotre, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/73379-toucan-shows-its-colourful-beak>)
- Rohan Dahotre, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/73380-sparrow-perched-on-a-tree-in-a-field-of-wheat>)
- Rohan Dahotre, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/73381-spoonbill-stands-in-a-shallow-lake>)
- Rohan Dahotre, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/73382-flamingo-stands-in-muddy-water>)
- Rohan Dahotre, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/73645-a-green-parrot-with-a-red-nut-cracking-beak>)
- Rohan Dahotre, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/73384-hornbill-with-its-sound-amplifier-beak>)
- Rohan Dahotre, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/73385-sunbird-resting-on-a-tree>)
- Rohan Dahotre, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/73386-hummingbird-flying-towards-a-flower-in-search-of-nectar>)
- Rohan Dahotre, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/73387-pelican-with-a-pouch-shaped-pink-beak>)
- Rohan Dahotre, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/73388-puffin-using-its-beak-to-store-fish>)
- Rohan Dahotre, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/73389-woodpecker-and-kingfisher-and-toucan-and-sparrow-display-their-beaks>)
- Rohan Dahotre, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/73390-spoonbill-and-flamingo-and-parrot-and-hornbill-display-their-beaks>)
- Rohan Dahotre, CC BY 4.0 (<https://storyweaver.org.in/illustrations/73391-sunbird-and-hummingbird-and-pelican-and-puffin-display-their-beaks>)