Book 31, Question 41
Why do swallows have such a wide mouth for their tiny beak?
Swallows and nightjars catch flying insects in midair.
Their beaks look small, but when they open, the mouth stretches very wide, like a scoop. That gives the bird a bigger target to catch flying bugs while it flies fast. Some nightjars also have stiff whisker-like feathers around the mouth that help funnel insects in. Insects are tricky targets, so a wide mouth is a big help.