What is the primary purpose of a bird’s beak?

A bird’s beak is a multifunctional tool adapted to its diet and lifestyle. It is used for feeding, with shapes tailored for specific foods—sharp beaks for tearing flesh, cone-shaped beaks for cracking seeds, and long slender beaks for probing nectar or insects. Beyond feeding, birds use their beaks for grooming, building nests, and sometimes for defense. For example, woodpeckers have strong, chisel-like beaks for drilling into wood. Beaks are lightweight but sturdy, allowing birds to perform these tasks without impeding flight.