Because birds fly, they need to be as light as possible. One of the great things about beaks is that they are lighter than jaws and teeth—even though they do much the same thing.

 

Another great thing about beaks is that they come in all shapes and sizes, depending on the needs of the bird:

- Eagles, hawks and many owls hunt small animals, so their beaks need to be strong and sharp. The hook on the end is ideal for tearing flesh from their prey.

- Arctic loons have a strong, sharp beak that’s good for diving into deep oceans, where they hunt for fish and other sea creatures.

- Puffins have a big, rounded beak that’s ideal for catching and holding several small fish at the one time.

 

Other birds have different needs, which is why some beaks have serrated edges (which are great for slicing through fruit), some are long and slim (for sipping nectar), and others are different again.

Every year, birds migrate from one part of the world to another in search of food and water, places to breed, and climates that are not too hot or cold. In these yearly migrations, birds can cover incredible distances, sometimes travelling from one end of the planet to the other.

 

When people travel these distances, they use maps and navigational instruments, but birds do it all on their own. How?

 

Scientists believe birds find their way by using things like the angle of the sun during the day, the position of the stars at night, the pull of the earth’s magnetic field, and special sights, smells and sounds along the way.

 

At the same time, young birds are known to make their first migration successfully even without the help of adult birds.

 

However they do it, birds have an almost magical ability to find their way from place to place.