Friday 8 June 2007

The Stare of A Beak

The Stare of A Beak



This bird has definitely got some long beak. I framed it on the 1/3 line to create a negative space on the right of the image. This angle shows a much fiercer look of the bird compared to the previous photo. What do you think?



Beaks can vary significantly in size and shape from species to species. The beak is composed of an upper jaw called the maxilla, and a lower jaw called the mandible. The jaw is made of bone, typically hollow or porous to conserve weight for flying. The outside surface of the beak is covered by a thin horny sheath of keratin called the rhamphotheca. Between the hard outer layer and the bone is a vascular layer containing blood vessels and nerve endings. The rhamphotheca also includes the knob which is found above the beak of some swans, such as the Mute Swan, and some domesticated Chinese geese (pictured).

(courtesy of wikipedia.com)

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