Cere (Noun)
Meaning
The fleshy, waxy covering at the base of the upper beak of some birds.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The brightly colored cere on the parrot's beak was a distinctive feature of the species.
- Tropicbirds have a small, usually uncolored cere, and this distinguishes them from other seabirds.
- Some birders use the shape and color of the cere as identification characteristics for certain species.
- The cere of a young pigeon is usually pink, but turns harder and more colorful as it matures.
- Birds typically spend time preening their ceras to keep them clean and in good condition.