Question

Finches often eat grit on the ground. They do this to ________.

1) Help with digestion
2) Provide essential nutrients
3) Strengthen their beaks
4) Attract mates

Answer 1

Finches eat grit to help grind food in the gizzard, aiding digestion since they lack teeth.

Step-by-step explanation:

Finches, like many other birds, do not have teeth and thus rely on unique digestive system adaptations to process their food. One of the unique adaptations in birds is the presence of a gizzard, which is a muscular stomach that uses swallowed stones to grind food. This grinding action helps digestion, since the birds can't chew their food with teeth. Eating grit or stones therefore aids the gizzard in breaking down food particles, making it easier for nutrients to be absorbed in the bird's intestine. The correct answer to why finches often eat grit on the ground is 1) Help with digestion.