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Name: Alex S
Status: student
Age: 11
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 2001322
Question:
What material are bird's beaks made up of?

Replies:
Bird have beaks made primarily of a calcium compound. Much like your nails and teeth. According to Pettingill's Ornithology Textbook (1970), the bird beak which is correctly called the manible is an extention of the skull with a modification of the boney material.

Steve Sample

I believe they are made of a protein called keratin, which is the same protein of which your finger nails are composed. Peter Faletra Ph.D.
Assistant Director
Science Education
Office of Science
Department of Energy

Bird beaks have a base of bone, which remains with a complete skeleton, and are covered with keratin, which gives the color and other details. J. Elliott

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