Book 31, Question 2 · Video
Why do some birds swallow small stones?
Birds have no teeth, so they cannot chew. Instead, many birds swallow tiny stones called grit, which collect in a strong, muscular stomach part called the gizzard. When the gizzard squeezes, the stones rub against seeds and tough food and grind it to mush. Without grit, a seed-eating bird would struggle to get energy out of its meal.
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What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do some birds swallow small stones?
The Big Idea
Some birds swallow little stones on purpose! It sounds strange, but it really helps. Why would a bird eat pebbles?
No Teeth
Step one: No Teeth. Birds have no teeth, so they cannot chew their food. Seeds and tough bits go down whole, and that can make them hard to break down.
Grit
Step two: Grit. Many birds swallow tiny stones called grit. The grit collects in a strong, muscular stomach part called the gizzard.
The Gizzard Grinds
Step three: The Gizzard Grinds. When the gizzard squeezes, the stones rub against seeds and tough food and grind them to mush. Without grit, a seed-eating bird would struggle to get energy out of its meal.
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look! Swallowed whole. Tiny stones. Strong muscles. Ready to digest.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! The gizzard works like a built-in set of teeth. Chickens swallow grit too. Seed-eating birds need grit the most. Grit stones are very tiny.
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! Put one cracker in each zip bag. Add a few clean pebbles to just one bag, then seal both. Shake both bags for one minute. Which cracker crumbles more? Do not eat the crackers, and wash your hands afterward.
Outro
Birds have no teeth, so many swallow tiny stones called grit. The grit sits in a muscular gizzard, and when it squeezes, the stones grind seeds and tough food into mush the bird can use. Science is amazing! Keep wondering and keep exploring! Share what you learned with someone at home, and see what they think! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!