Curvirostral

/ˌkɜːrvɪˈrɒstrəl/ adjective

Definition

Having a curved beak or bill; used in ornithology to describe birds with curved beaks.

Etymology

From Latin 'curvus' (curved) and 'rostrum' (beak, mouth) plus '-al' (relating to). The term became standardized in 18th-century bird classification systems.

Kelly Says

Hummingbirds have the most dramatically curvirostral beaks, which perfectly match the curved trumpet flowers they feed from—it's a classic example of evolution perfectly matching a bird's tool to its food source.

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