Beak/bill/rostrum

Question

Hello. What is the difference between 'beak', 'bill' and 'rostrum'? (It has any bird.) Thanks.

Veronica 222 · Accepted Answer

Answer please.

Prajwalkr · Answer

Veronica 222What is the difference between 'beak', 'bill' and 'rostrum'? (54 minutes ago)

A beak is used for tearing things whereas a bill is used for catching things. So, an owl has a beak to tear things apart while wading birds catch fish with their bills. A rostrum is a beak-like thing, especially a stiff snout or anterior prolongation of the head. For the various uses of rostrum, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rostrum_(anatomy)

Veronica 222: Answer please. (52 minutes ago)

Surely, you did not expect us to reply within two minutes, right?

Prajwal

Enoon · Answer

Veronica 222 Hello. What is the difference between 'beak', 'bill' and 'rostrum'? (It has any bird.) Thanks.

"Rostrum" is Latin for "beak". It is a technical term from biology, and few people know it. A bird's beak is a rostrum, but so is the nose-like thing on a crab.

Prajwalkr's distinctions are right. These distinctions are not well defined; people disagree on what is a beak and what is a bill. If you use "beak" at all times you won't go far wrong. I'd say that "beak" is the more general term.

Prajwalkr · Answer

enoonI'd say that "beak" is the more general term.

I'll second that.

Prajwal

Beak/bill/rostrum

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