Ornithology morphology

Bill shape and features

general shape

tip shape

commissure- angle at which maxilla and mandable meet

tomia- cutting edge of beak

cross section

nostrils

bill general shape

long

short

spatulate

conical

bent

long beak general shape

longer than head

heron

humming bird

short general shape beak

shorter than head

finch

sparrow

spatulate general shape beak

widened or depressed towards the tip

shoveler

spoonbill

conical general shape beak

shape of a cone

cardinals

grosbeaks

redpoll

Bent general beak shape

deflected at an angle

flamingo

bill tip shape

hooked

crossed

acute

chisel like

nail

tip shaped hooked

the upper mandible is longer than the lower and the tip is bent over the lower

raptors

tip shaped crossed

the tips of the mandibles cross eachother

crossbill

acute bill tip shape

bill tapers to a sharp point

insect eating

warbler

chisel like tip shape

tip is beveled

woodpecker

nail shaped tip shape

flattened egg tooth

duck

bill shape commissure

angle at which maxilla and mandible meet

straight

decurved

recurved

straight commissure

closing mandible line

is in line with axis of head

heron

decurved commissure

downward curve

curlew

creeper

recurved commissure

upward curve

avocet

godwit

Bill shape tomia

cutting edge of beak

toothed

notched

lamellate

serrate

toothed tomia

‘tooth’ near base of the mandible

trogon

falcon

notched tomia

slight nick near the tip of tomia of one or both mandible

robin

Serrate tomia

saw like

merganser

lamellate tomia

series of transverse tooth-like ridges

dabbling duck

flamingoes

bill shape cross section

terete

depressed

compressed

terete cross section

circular

songbird

hummingbird

depressed cross section

bill is wider than high

duck

compressed cross section

higher than wide

loon

puffin