Where are a bird's nostrils?
Look at the top or sides of the upper bill, close to where it meets the face. On many birds you will see two small openings.
Those are the nares. One opening is a naris.
They can be round, oval, slit-like, partly covered, or set into a fleshy area. Once you start noticing them, bird bills suddenly look more complicated.
Why don't birds have a nose like ours?
A bird's face is organized around the bill rather than a separate projecting nose and mouth.
The nasal cavities are built into the skull above the mouth, with the nares opening through the bill. That arrangement suits a lightweight head and a bill that can be highly specialized for feeding.
So saying a bird has "no nose" is really about appearance. Anatomically, the nasal system is still there.
Do birds breathe through their nostrils?
Yes. Air can enter through the nares and pass through the nasal cavity toward the rest of the respiratory system.
The nasal passages help warm, humidify, and filter incoming air. Birds can also breathe through the mouth when needed, such as during panting.
That matters because birds do not sweat. If you are curious about hot-weather cooling, see do birds sweat?.
Can birds smell through their nostrils?
Yes. Odour molecules entering the nasal cavity can reach olfactory tissue, which sends information to the brain.
What changes dramatically is how much a species relies on that information.
Some birds have a modest sense of smell. Others are impressive. Turkey vultures can locate carrion by scent, several seabirds use smell over the ocean, and kiwis use their bills almost like scent probes.
The old line that birds have a poor sense of smell is much too broad. Read can birds smell? for the full story.
Why are kiwi nostrils at the tip of the bill?
Kiwis are unusual because their nares sit close to the tip of the long bill rather than near the base.
That puts the sense of smell close to the ground while the bird probes soil and leaf litter for worms, insects, and other food.
It is a wonderful example of anatomy following behaviour. Move the nostrils to where they do the most work.
What are the tubes on an albatross bill?
Albatrosses, petrels, shearwaters, and storm-petrels belong to a group often called the tubenoses. Their nares open into distinctive tubes on top of the bill.
These seabirds are also known for strong olfactory abilities. Smell can help them locate food across enormous stretches of ocean.
The tubes have another connection with life at sea: concentrated salty fluid from specialized salt glands can drain toward the nostrils.
What is the fleshy part around a pigeon's nostrils?
That soft-looking area at the base of the upper bill is called the cere. In pigeons and several other groups, the nares sit within or beside it.
Raptors can have a noticeable cere too, often brightly coloured.
The cere is not the bird's nose itself. It is tissue around the base of the bill where the nostril openings are located.
Do all bird nostrils look the same?
No. Far from it.
Compare a pigeon, hawk, duck, kiwi, and albatross and you will see very different shapes and positions. Some species even have structures that partly cover the nares.
Those differences can reflect feeding style, habitat, airflow, protection from debris, and evolutionary history.
Can water go up a bird's nose?
Birds that feed and swim around water have adaptations that reduce the problem, but the exact solution differs by species.
Some diving birds can close or protect the nares. Others have small or specialized openings that help keep water and debris out.
A duck's nasal setup is not the same as a songbird's. It does not need to be.
Why do some birds have feathers over their nostrils?
Feathers or bristle-like structures around the nares can help protect the opening from dust, snow, seeds, or other debris.
In some species the nostrils are more exposed. In others they can be surprisingly hard to see.
That is one reason a close photograph can reveal details you never notice through binoculars.
Do birds sneeze?
Birds can make forceful respiratory movements that clear material from the nasal passages. A healthy wild bird may occasionally sneeze after dust, water, or debris gets into the nares.
It is another reminder that those tiny openings are active parts of the respiratory system, not decorative holes in the bill.
Frequently asked questions
What are bird nostrils called?
They are called nares. The singular form is naris.
Do birds have two nostrils?
Most birds have a pair of nares, one on each side or close together on the upper bill.
Can birds smell?
Yes. The strength and importance of smell vary widely among species.
Do birds breathe through their beaks?
They can breathe through the mouth, especially while panting, but normal airflow can enter through the nares and nasal passages.
Keep following the question
Once you start looking closely at a bird's face, there is a lot going on. Read can birds smell?, do birds have tongues?, or return to the Bird Facts hub.