Select this text to learn more about the series and how to extend its usefulness. The shape of a bird's beak can give us many clues as to what kind of food primarily makes up its diet. Ducks use their flat bills like strainers sifting plankton out of the water. Eagles have strong hooked beaks that they tear their prey or bits of plants with. Sandpipers use their long beaks to probe in the sand while woodpeckers use their strong chisel-like beaks to peck insects out of wood.
Hummingbirds use their needle-like beaks as straws to get nectar from flowers.
Each beak is specialized for the food that the bird eats. Have the students think of all the different shapes of birds beaks. Place all the various utensils out on a table for the students to look at. Pass out the worksheets. Instruct the students to match the food to the best suited bird beak.