If you've been recording the birds that you've seen today in your #NHMHomeworkClub nature journal, have you been noting down details of the feathers, beaks and behaviours of the birds? Learning Volunteers have looked into why these are such useful things to record.
Clues to a bird's diet are found in the shape & size of its beak. Foods can be: insects, fruit, seeds, fish, nectar, small mammals and a mixed diet. Examples of beak shapes are cones, hooks, straight, needle-like and spatulate (like a spoon) Which shapes match which foods?
Which beak shape and size would be best for breaking tough seeds? A thick, strong cone or a beak that's long and thin like a needle?