Under these drastically changing conditions, the struggle to survive favored the larger birds with deep, strong beaks for opening the hard seeds. Smaller finches with less-powerful beaks perished.

Using digitization techniques, the researchers found that 14 distinct beak shapes, that at first glance look unrelated, could be categorized into three broader, group shapes. Despite the striking ...

Examples: Finches, sparrows ... They allow for the precise manipulation of tiny prey. Woodpeckers have strong, chisel-shaped ...

Designed to handle repeated hammering, woodpecker beaks can handle intense pressure ... from dark-eyed juncos to house finches, cone-shaped bills are some of the strongest around.