do birds swallow seeds whole

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Seed-eating and certain other birds increase the gizzard’s effectiveness by swallowing stones and gravel, which are stored and act as grinding surfaces. These stones are periodically regurgitated or passed in the feces, possibly to prevent their becoming smooth and, consequently, less effective. Be sure to always have grit available to your seed-eating birds, prod or they will not be able to derive adequate nutrition from even a well-planned diet. Bits of cuttlebone also help to grind seeds, but only temporarily.

Pigeons swallow huge amounts of gravel, as they consume their seeds shell and all. While working with reptiles years ago at the Bronx Zoo, it was standard practice to trap pigeons for use as crocodile food (sorry, pigeon fanciers – I like pigeons too, but it was impossible to keep them out of certain exhibits, and they were implicated in the spread of diseases to the collection and staff). However, tests showed that the pigeons’ lead levels were incredibly high, due in part to ingesting the heavily-polluted Bronx gravel, and we ceased the practice (the pigeons were and remain fat and healthy none-the-less).

In the Bronx community where I grew up, “city” pigeons featured in the diets of people from several European countries. Elderly but quick-handed women tossed wet towels over pigeons as they came to feed on fire escapes (on bread put out by the same women, of course!) and knocked the squabs from nests with long bamboo canes. I never protested, despite my interest in all things avian, as their quick reflexes were just as likely to be used against annoying children as tasty pigeons! Well, that neighborhood is still home to some quite elderly people, so perhaps the lead-laced pigeons have not had their revenge!

A number of fishes and crocodilians have gizzards and utilize stones – more on that in the future.

Additionally crucial in spreading seeds for many different tree species are nutcrackers. A nutcracker’s failure to return and consume a cache could cause the seed to sprout into a young tree. Nutcrackers are especially important to Whitebark pines as they disperse their seeds throughout the forest. In light of an introduced disease that is destroying whitebark pines in the West, Taza Schaming, a PhD candidate at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, investigates the mutualism between nutcrackers and pines in Wyoming and the conservation implications of that relationship.

Black-capped chickadees are able to recall not only where they have stored seeds, but also which caches they have already eaten, which caches they have found eaten by other animals, and which caches contain their favorite food items, according to research published in Animal Behavior in 1984 by David Sherry. Additionally, Sherry discovered that chickadees retain the locations of their caches for a period of 28 days following their creation.

Many fishes and crocodilians use stones and have gizzards; we’ll talk more about that later.

People from various European countries included “city” pigeons in their diets in the Bronx community where I grew up. Using long bamboo canes, elderly but deft women knocked squabs out of their nests and threw wet towels over pigeons as they came to feed on fire escapes (on bread left out by the same women, naturally!). Though I love all things bird related, I never complained because their fast reflexes were more likely to be used against bothersome kids than tasty pigeons! Well, that neighborhood still has some pretty old people living in it, so maybe the lead-laced pigeons haven’t gotten their comeuppance!

Seed-eating and certain other birds increase the gizzard’s effectiveness by swallowing stones and gravel, which are stored and act as grinding surfaces. These stones are periodically regurgitated or passed in the feces, possibly to prevent their becoming smooth and, consequently, less effective. Be sure to always have grit available to your seed-eating birds, prod or they will not be able to derive adequate nutrition from even a well-planned diet. Bits of cuttlebone also help to grind seeds, but only temporarily.

Pigeons eat their seeds, shells and all, and as a result, swallow enormous amounts of gravel. Years ago, I worked with reptiles at the Bronx Zoo, where it was common practice to trap pigeons for feeding to crocodiles (I know, I know, I like pigeons too), and they were responsible for the spread of diseases to staff members and the collection. But after testing revealed that the pigeons’ extremely high lead levels were partly caused by their consumption of the highly polluted Bronx gravel, we stopped the practice—despite the fact that the pigeons were and still are healthy and fat.

FAQ

Do birds eat the whole seed?

Larger birds in particular will expertly dehull seeds, very visibly. You can see a large pile of shells, particularly sunflower seeds, under some bird feeders. Bird beaks are hollow with sharp edges and a very agile tongue. Parrotlets in particular can work a seed around and round in their beaks to remove hulls.

Do birds swallow nuts whole?

On the other hand, birds that feed on larger prey, such as nuts, seeds, or fruits, may use their beaks to crack open the food and then tear it into smaller pieces before swallowing. This allows them to more easily digest the food and extract the nutrients they need.

Do all birds swallow their food whole?

Without the teeth and chewing muscles that humans have, birds often swallow their food whole. While some birds may rip apart their prey, or they may break up a seed, many species, such as herons and pelicans, are frequently reliant on the ol’ tip your head back and down the hatch method.