stupid question, but gotta know...

[Snowy]

What's the difference between a beak and bill????

[Nazir's]

Very good question. According to the dictionary, the beak is the bill of a bird and vise versa. Therefore, I believe that it's safe to say that they are the same.
The term bill is the proper name for the beak. Example: The bird's bill , also referred to as the beak is one of the most notable things about a bird.
More info: The Bird's Bill

[huntress]

Something with a Mandible and a Maxilla??? (sp?) LOL???

or My nose and a dollar???

[Nazir's]

Originally Posted by huntress

Something with a Mandible and a Maxilla??? (sp?) LOL???
or My nose and a dollar???

I didn't get it. Huh?

[Irish]

Top and bottom of the beak, Nazir's :-).

[Nazir's]

oh okay...

[PowerBBS]

Originally Posted by Snowy

What's the difference between a beak and bill????

A beak is on a bird... A bill is what you pay to adopt the bird with the beak...

LOL.... ok that's lame... had to say it though.

Honestly... I would say a beak is typically sharp and pointed at the end. A bill is flat and rounded at the end. Beaks are intended for prying, poking, pecking, digging, foraging.... Bills are for just grabbing.

For example:
A parrot/robin/swallow/pigeon/etc... has a beak....
A duck/goose/swan/etc... have bills.... A platypus has a bill even. (Interested fact: Are you aware of the fact that the platypus is the only egg-laying mammal? This is interesting as the one of the key points that defines a mammal is "gives birth to live young".) Can you think of any other animal that has a bill that isn't considered water fowl? (And dinosaurs don't count!)

BTW: I'm from Montana. Montana is the largest dinosaur fossil site/deposit in North America. The first TRex skull in the US was discovered here. The most complete TRex skull in the world was found here - it was discovered with "meat" still on it's bones because it was so well preserved it's skin and flesh had not yet completed decomposition (wow!... millions of years - estimated 40 to 80 million years - and still got the meat on it... wow!) Ok thats enough Montana dino history for now.

Back to Beaks and Bills: Also bills typically are a bit flexible (it's more like cartilage) as where beaks are firm and hard and typically will break or chip before bending.

Toucans... well... good question... I'd still have to say beak in my opinion because of the pointed end.

Hope that makes sense.

[Nazir's]

Although we refer to this as a beak and that as a bill; in all honesty, they are the same. As mentioned before, the term bill is the proper name for a beak. That's in regardless of its shape, size, or what feathered creature posses it. This is what I've found through my online research and while referring back to my school reference books. Just as a thumb is a finger, a beak is a bill.

[ROYJOY]

well, the way i heard it was, if its straight, its a bill. (ducks, finches, and etc.), and if it curves, its a beak. (eagles, parrots, and etc.) but who cares.

[Nazir's]

None the less, it was a great question.
It's like potato or potato, tomato or tomato. I guess, we'll never know with a 100% certainty. Refer to it as you may, I am sure that you wont be misunderstood either way.