View article

1. In granivorous songbirds, feeding is a complex process as seeds need to be dehusked before they can be consumed, making the feeding act a biomechanically challenging endeavour. However, most previous research has focused on how beak morphology affects feeding performance, while the influences of beak kinematics remain largely unknown.

2. In this study, we hence investigated at the individual level how feeding performance (ie seed processing time and success rate) relates to both beak kinematics (ie beak tip speed, acceleration, frequency) and skill (ie seed handling tactics and cracking techniques) in the Canary Serinus canaria. To do so, high-speed videos during feeding were recorded and subjected to automated tracking of beak tip movements. 3. Better skills, that is accurate positioning of the seed for being split in half, reduced total seed handling time compared to more random positioning and crushing the husk into multiple, scattering fragments. Surprisingly, individual variation in beak speed, acceleration or frequency generally did not relate to differences in performance.