Beak dimensions affect feeding performance within a granivorous songbird species

Beaks of granivorous songbirds are adapted to dehusk seeds fast and efficiently. This is reflected in the large variety of beak shapes and sizes among species specialized in different seed types. Generally, larger beaks improve the dehusking of larger seeds by transmitting and withstanding higher bite forces. Meanwhile, smaller beaks are better suited for processing smaller seeds by allowing faster beak movements and better seed handling dexterity. These patterns are presumably the result of a trade-off between force and velocity inherent to lever systems. Since beak shape also varies among individuals of the same species, we investigated whether beak shape relates to variation in feeding performance and beak kinematics in the Domestic Canary (Serinus canaria). We analysed beak morphology of 87 individuals through both traditional size measurements and 3D-landmark analysis to capture metrics such as beak depth, length, width and curvature. We related these metrics of morphology to data ..., Image data of birds with their beaks held in a closed resting position were selected from the recordings of Andries et al. (2023).
Image data was calibrated using synchronized images of a calibration object with known dimensions in XMAlab.
Landmarks were annotated on the calibrated images in XMAlab.
3D-coordinates of the landmarks were extracted and used to calculate beak size metrics in Microsoft Excel.
To analyze beak curvature, 3D-coordinates of the landmarks on the upper beak's curve were further processed and analyzed in R (version 4.3.3.).
Morphological data were related to feeding performance, beak kinematics and seed handling skill metrics, directly taken from Andries et al. (2023)., , # Data from: Beak dimensions affect feeding performance within a granivorous songbird species

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.d51c5b0dm](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.d51c5b0dm)

## Description of the data and file structure

This dataset contains all the necessary data for reproducing the results of the research, as described in the manuscript with the name: 'Beak dimensions affect feeding performance within a granivorous songbird species'

The data includes beak morphology data obtained from landmark analysis and size measurmeents on calibrated images and data on feeding performance, skills and beak kinematics obtained from Andries et al. (2023).

### Files and variables

This dataset includes 5 .csv files with landmark and measurement data, one R-file containing the code for the landmark analysis, one R-file containing the code for statistical analysis and associated .txt files (see below; code/software) and the raw image data used in the anaylses.

image_data.zip: File folder contai...