What is the difference between a beak and a bill?

A beak and a bill – mostly in birds – is used for eating. There are two parts of a beak and a bill: 1) upper mandible (jaw), which is also called a maxilla, and 2) lower mandible (jaw), which is called mandible. 

The beak and the bill are similar and it is considered acceptable to use the beak and the bill to mean the same thing. However, there is slight difference.

Birds of prey (raptors) and turtles have a beak. Some other animals have a beak-like structure. A pufferfish has a beak-like structure, which means that its mouth looks like a beak.

A beak is very sharp and can break bones so that the raptors – such as vultures, condors, eagles, falcons, hawks, etc. can eat mammals. A raptor is a bird that hunts and feeds on live prey, such as rodents and mammals. 

A beak is more pointed and sharper than a bill.

A bill is used when referring to all other birds, such as seed-eating birds, nectar-sucking birds, insect-catching birds, fruit-eating birds, and so on. However, the word beak is also used for these types of birds. 

Sometimes, people have a preference when using the word beak or bill. 

Examples:

A sparrow has a bill or a beak.

A pigeon has a bill or a beak.

A flamingo has a bill or a beak.

A woodpecker has a bill or a beak. Most people use beak.

A pelican has a bill or a beak. Most people use bill. 

An ibis has a bill or a beak. Most people use bill. 

A duck has a bill or a beak. Most people used bill.

A spoonbill has a bill.

A hornbill has a bill.

A parrot has a beak. 

A turtle has a beak.

A hawk has a beak.

A vulture has a beak.

An eagle has a beak.

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM