Mouth and Digestive System of birds

Mouth and Digestive System

Birds do not have teeth. They use their beaks to break up the food they eat. Also, birds lack a soft palate at the back of their mouths. The food is pushed along by the muscles in the esophagus (the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach) until it reaches the crop, where it is stored and is sometimes partially digested before passing on to the stomach.

Unlike humans, birds have a 2-part stomach consisting of the proventriculus and the ventriculus or gizzard. The proventriculus produces digestive fluids that help break down the food. Once the digestive fluids have soaked into the food, it moves on to the gizzard where it is ground up. In some birds, the work of the gizzard is enhanced by sand and small stones that the bird has swallowed for this purpose. This grinding material is called grit. Not all birds need it, but some do. Your veterinarian can advise you on the amount and type of grit that is most appropriate for your particular bird.

From the gizzard, the bird's food passes into the intestines, where intestinal enzymes as well as secretions from the liver and pancreas help finish digestion. Food then passes into the large intestine, colon, and finally into the cloaca. Here both liquid and solid waste (urine and feces) are stored prior to exiting the body through the vent. The vent is located near the base of the tail feathers.

Digestive system of a bird