Many people may not realize that some species of birds actually have nostrils located on their beaks rather than at the base. The purpose of nostril placement on beaks allows certain avian groups to have enhanced olfactory capabilities and sense of smell for various behaviors and adaptations.
Kiwis
One of the most well-known birds with nostrils at the tip of their beaks are the kiwis. Kiwis are flightless birds found only in New Zealand. They have long beaks with nostrils at the end which gives them an excellent sense of smell to find food at night when they are most active. In fact, kiwis have the most highly developed sense of smell of any bird. Their beak also has tactile pits near the tip which can detect prey through touch. Here is a quick overview of kiwi nostril placement:
- Species: Kiwis (genus Apteryx)
- Location of nostrils: At the tip of the long beak
- Purpose: Highly developed sense of smell to find food at night
Storm Petrels
Storm petrels are a group of small seabirds in the order Procellariiformes. They have nostrils located on top of their short bills rather than at the base. This allows them to smell food sources like crustaceans or fish oils as they fly low over the ocean surface. Some key facts about storm petrel nostrils include:
- Species: All storm petrels (family Hydrobatidae)
- Location of nostrils: At the top of short, hooked bills
- Purpose: Aids in smelling food sources over oceans
Shearwaters
Shearwaters are medium to large seabirds also in the order Procellariiformes. They have long, thin bills with the nostrils located at the top near the base rather than at the tip. Their excellent sense of small allows them to detect prey, fish oils, and locate nesting colonies while flying over the open ocean. Here are some key facts about shearwater nostril placement:
- Species: All shearwaters (family Procellariidae)
- Location of nostrils: At the base of long, thin bills
- Purpose: Sensitive smell to find food and colonies at sea
Albatrosses
Albatrosses are among the largest flying seabirds in the world. In the same order as shearwaters, they also have nostrils located along the top ridge of their large, hooked beaks rather than at the base. Their highly developed sense of smell helps them locate food across vast distances out at sea. Key facts about albatross nostril placement:
- Species: All albatrosses (family Diomedeidae)
- Location of nostrils: On top ridge of large hooked bill
- Purpose: Aids in smelling prey over large ocean ranges
Petrels
Petrels comprise a large group of seabirds in the order Procellariiformes. They have tubular or hooked bills with nostrils that vary in placement depending on the species. Blue petrels have nostrils midway down their bill, while others like fulmars have them close to the base. But in all cases, the nostril placement aids their excellent sense of smell while foraging over the sea. Some key petrel nostril facts:
- Species: All petrels (family Procellariidae)
- Location of nostrils: Varies, from midpoint to base of tubular bills
- Purpose: Smelling prey across ocean habitats
Puffins
Puffins are a group of seabirds in the family Alcidae. They breed in cliffside colonies in the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Puffins have colorful bulbous bills with their nostrils located about midway down the top ridge of their beak. Their nasal placement allows them to use smell to find food like fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods. Here are some key puffin nostril facts:
- Species: All puffins (genus Fratercula)
- Location of nostrils: Midway down the top ridge of colorful bills
- Purpose: Aiding in smell to find food in ocean
Auks
Auks are a family of seabirds closely related to puffins. Their bills may be smaller but they also have nostrils located midway up their upper ridge rather than at the base. Together with their relative puffins, auks rely on smell located in their beak nostrils to find food in northern marine environments. Some key auk nostrils facts:
- Species: All auks (family Alcidae)
- Location of nostrils: Midpoint of upper bill ridge
- Purpose: Sense of smell for foraging
Tropicbirds
Tropicbirds are a family of slender white seabirds found in tropical oceans. They have very thin, pointed bills with their nostrils located right at the tip. This placement maximizes their sense of smell to help locate prey like fish and squid while flying over tropical seas. Some key facts about tropicbird nostrils:
- Species: All tropicbirds (family Phaethontidae)
- Location of nostrils: At tip of slender pointed bill
- Purpose: Aids smelling prey from the air
Oilbirds
Oilbirds are a unique nocturnal species found in Central and South America. They are the only birds that locate food by echolocation like bats. Oilbirds have curved bills with the nostrils located at the base of their upper ridge. This allows them to smell and find the fruit and nuts which comprise their diet while navigating through caves in total darkness. Some key oilbird nostril facts:
- Species: Oilbirds (genus Steatornis)
- Location of nostrils: Base of upper ridge on curved bill
- Purpose: Smelling food in total darkness
Hoopoes
Hoopoes are a colorful bird found across Africa, southern Asia, and Europe. They have long, slender downcurved bills, with the nostrils located at the base. Their bills help probe into soil and their sense of smell aids in finding insects and larvae. Some key hoopoe nostril facts:
- Species: Hoopoes (genus Upupa)
- Location of nostrils: At base of long downcurved bill
- Purpose: Smelling insects and larvae underground
New World Vultures
New world vultures like the Andean and California condor are found in the Americas. They have large hooked beaks with the nostrils set midway down the top ridge. Their sense of smell helps them find rotting carcasses for food. Some key facts about New World vulture nostrils:
- Species: New World vultures (family Cathartidae)
- Location of nostrils: Mid-beak on upper ridge
- Purpose: Locating rotting carcasses by smell
Frigatebirds
Frigatebirds are large seabirds found across tropical and subtropical oceans. They have long, hooked bills with nostrils tubed on the sides. This placement helps drain water and aids their sense of smell for locating food across the ocean. Some key frigatebird nostril facts:
- Species: All frigatebirds (family Fregatidae)
- Location of nostrils: On sides of long hooked bill
- Purpose: Draining water and oceanic food smelling
Tropicbirds
Tropicbirds are a family of slender white seabirds found in tropical oceans. They have very thin, pointed bills with their nostrils located right at the tip. This placement maximizes their sense of smell to help locate prey like fish and squid while flying over tropical seas. Some key facts about tropicbird nostrils:
- Species: All tropicbirds (family Phaethontidae)
- Location of nostrils: At tip of slender pointed bill
- Purpose: Aids smelling prey from the air
Sunbittern
The sunbittern is a unique long-legged bird from Central and South America. It has a long, downward curving bill with nostrils at the base. This allows it to smell for prey like small fish, frogs, and insects among streamside rocks and vegetation. Some key sunbittern nostril facts:
- Species: Sunbittern (genus Eurypyga)
- Location of nostrils: Base of long downcurved bill
- Purpose: Smelling out prey among streamside rocks
Kagu
The kagu is a rare gray bird native to the forests of New Caledonia. It has a long bill with slit-like nostrils located halfway down its ridge. Along with keen eyesight, its nasal position aids the kagu in finding invertebrate prey on the forest floor. Some key kagu nostril facts:
- Species: Kagu (genus Rhynochetos)
- Location of nostrils: Midway down top ridge of bill
- Purpose: Smelling forest floor prey
Shoebill
The shoebill is a large stork-like bird of tropical Africa. It has a long, broad bill with nostril slits positioned at the base. Its sense of smell helps the shoebill locate prey like lungfish, reptiles, and small mammals concealed in swamp vegetation. Some key shoebill nostril facts:
- Species: Shoebill (genus Balaeniceps)
- Location of nostrils: Base of large broad bill
- Purpose: Locating concealed prey in wetlands
Conclusion
In review, while most bird nostrils are located at the base of their beaks, a number of specialized groups have nostrils further down their bills, or at the tip. This includes seabirds like petrels, shearwaters, and albatrosses who use smell to forage over the ocean. It also includes shorebirds like kiwis and sunbitterns who probe into soil and wetlands. No matter the location, nostril placement in birds is carefully tuned to their specific feeding habits and sensory needs.
