Why do birds eat what they eat?

Question

all kinds of birds!

Answer 1

:) Why do you eat what you eat?

Answer 2

This isnt a stupid question at all. Different types of birds eat different foods. There are over 10,000 species of birds. Each species has its own way of eating. Birds have evolved to eat whats available to them and to fill a niche in their environment.

Let me give you some examples. In Ecuador there is a species of hummingbird called a Sword-billed Hummingbird. Here is a webpage with some photos.
http://www.martinreid.com/Misc%20website/EC2006swordbill.htmlAs you can see this bird has an amazingly long bill. They have evolved to feed on Datura, which is a plant with an extremely long drooping flower. The hummingbird developed the long bill to be able to reach up into the flower to feed.

Another adaptation is in Long-billed Dowitchers, a species of sandpiper. They have a long bill (duh!) that probes deeply into mud and sand, looking for worms. Other species of sandpipers have shorter bills and pick off the bugs on the surface.

Different seed eating birds have different shaped bills to each different types of seeds. For instance Cardinals have heavy thick bills so they can crack hard seeds. Crossbills have an odd almost scissor shaped bill to pick out seeds from pine cones. Goldfinches have smallish bills that enable them to pick small seeds from flowers.

Each species of bird eats what its evolved to eat. When you put all the species in an area together, they balance things out.

Answer 3

They eat what is reasonably nutritious for them, apart from trying out random junk once in a while.
There may have been birds that liked to eat non-nutritious stuff, but they get culled by evolution.
They also eat what they can get, which means a hawk can prey on rats which they can catch, but sparrows cannot, and they adjust to a diet of seeds etc.

ps: if they tried to eat what they don't eat, its frustrating, coz they anyway won't eat them by definition. :)

Answer 4

Because birds is birds.

Answer 5

why do you care
let the poor birds eat

Answer 6

They know what they like, just like you do, and they do NOT make good choices either! Wild birds, it is ok for them to eat fats, because they get the exercise, but pet birds, you have to watch the fat they eat, like sunflower seeds and peanuts. Peanuts are dangerous anyway because they are a root plant, and there is a fungus that grows on it and is toxic to our little birds. I do let mine eat peanuts, BUT not like I used to. I used to fill her up on peanuts and sunflower seeds their favorite. Mine likes human food, which is very good, but she is like me, she likes it seasoned! lol There is all kinds of recipes on the internet for birds. I make what they call a birdie bread and never make it the same every time. I use some baby food in it, some crused no salt canned mixed veggies, one egg, micro the shell and crush it up in as small of pieces that you can. That provides calcium for them. Also put some pecans or almonds in it. Almonds are the best to feed your birds and yourself also, as they do not have as much fat as the other nuts. Be sure they are small bits, but not crushed. I just throw in a few seeds too. I use carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, ONE green, like kids, they don't like greens much, or mine doesn't. Fresh greens are better, but I am afraid of them now. You have to almost wash them with soap and water before you feed it to them. I also put some fruit in it. Baby food fruit is ok. I usually use peaches, pears anything. It is ok to give your birds, if they are bigger birds, a little meat my vet told me. I make sure it is cool enough not to burn their little tongue, and make sure I take a paper towel and get as much grease out of it as possible. Also, most birds won't eat or drink in front of you. If I hand my African grey something and stand there, she will drop it, so I hand it to her, and immediately turn and walk out of the room. She usually puts her foot up and takes it down so she can eat it. Wild birds and domestic birds are entirely different. Do not EVER give them pig ears that you see in the pet store. To your dog either. They are very dangerous for them both. Also people give their birds monkey food and that is wrong. monkey's are monkey's and birds are birds. lol Birds food have to be so clean and bacteria free that you have to be careful. I NEVER buy my food at ANY shopping center, go to a reputable pet store and make sure you get the one in the back as it will be fresher, or supposed to be if they rotated right. I don't know if you know it or not, but HM, you will have to guess what brand that is, used to kill birds, I would NEVER feed them that. Wild birds, just buy the wild bird seed and suet, suet is fat. They sell it at the pet store also.

Answer 7

birds eat because they hav hunger same like us.mostly they eats grains.

Answer 8

different birds have evolved to eat different things and have adapted accordingly. For example, hummingbirds bills are designed to probe flowers for nectar, finches have short, thick bills for eating seeeds, hawks have hooked bills for tearing flesh since they are meat eaters, etc., etc.

Answer 9

Because they can't get hold of a steak knife and the ketchup bottle makes them weep with frustration!!

Answer 10

Why do we eat what we eat? Why do cats eat what they eat? Why did dinasours eat what they ate? Because it's what we like.

Answer 11

lmao
serriously????

ok they eat what they eat becuase their instincs tell them to...
same reason some fly south in the winter.
and make nests in the spring.
and poop when they need to.
and and and.....