Discuss with the class the results displayed on the graph for each food item and beak type. The Adaptations of the birds in terms of their beaks and feed enable them to successfully compete for food in a particular habitat virtually side by side other birds. This is called Resource Partitioning . Birds with long, narrow beaks can penetrate the soft mud to a depth equal to the length of their bill and feed on worms, mollusks, burrowing shrimp and crabs. The length of the legs allow the bird to feed in water of varying depth which in turn opens up a wider forage area.
Long toes add stability to the waders and webs between the toes aid in swimming.
Birds with long, sharp beaks and long legs, like scarlet ibis and sun bittern, can wade in water and use their beaks to stab fish, their primary food item. Birds with short legs and beaks, like the blue-crowned motmot, feed on insects. They are functionally adapted to successfully exploit a particular food item and habitat. The shape and form of their beaks and feet provide valuable clues through observation that allow us to infer or predict to which habitat and food source a particular bird with a certain beak type would be most successfully adapted. Have the students predict how successful each beak type will be when all of the food items are available at one time.