Finding food isn't just about having specially adapted legs and beaks. It's also about the technique the bird uses. Birds feed differently in every environment.
Small birds increase their chances of finding food by searching in groups. This also helps them look out for danger. Flocks of woodland birds often contain a mixture of species, especially in winter. Look carefully when you see blue tits or long-tailed tits working their way through a tree: you may spot goldcrests, nuthatches or treecreepers too.
Some insect-eating birds have learned to follow grazing animals and snap up the insects that they disturb. Yellow wagtails are experts at this. In tropical countries, small herons called cattle egrets catch most of their food by following herd animals – even elephants.
The honeyguide is a small African bird that likes beeswax. It has developed a unique relationship with an animal called the honey badger. When the honeyguide finds a bees’ nest, it calls the badger to the right tree. The badger climbs up, rips out the nest and eats the honey. Its thick skin protects it from stings. The honeyguide can then feed on the beeswax.
Why do all the work yourself? Some birds have learned how to steal their food from others. This is called piracy. Great skuas are fast, aggressive seabirds that chase gannets, force them to drop their catch, then swoop down to grab it for themselves.
View this page online at http://www.rspb.org.uk/youth/learn/adaptation/findameal/index.asp