Bird Adaptations for Feeding
Many of the bird species that inhabit the Ten Thousand Island area have their
own unique adaptation that helps them acquire sustenance from the local habitat.
These adaptations enable various species to share the same environment without
competing directly with each other.
- Bald eagles have broad wings for soaring and flying long distances, and
sharp eyes to see their prey from great heights.
- Osprey hunt by diving feet first in the water and grabbing their prey with
their sharp talons.
- White ibis and wood storks feed by feel, probing the soft bottom with their
beaks.
- Great egrets wade through the shallows using their large beaks to catch
frogs, fish, and crabs.
- Black skimmers fly just above the surface catching small fish by actually
skimming their large lower beaks through the
water.
- Brown pelicans plunge head first into schools of fish, stunning them and
then scooping them up.