What purpose does grit serve for Zebra Finches that lack teeth?

Answer

Aiding the gizzard in grinding tough seed husks

Since Zebra Finches do not possess teeth, their digestive system relies heavily on the muscular stomach, the gizzard, to mechanically process their food intake. To effectively break down tough materials, particularly hard seed husks, they require access to grit. This grit is composed of coarse sand or very small pebbles that are ingested and retained in the gizzard, where they work abrasively to grind the seeds into a digestible form, which is a crucial step in their digestion process.

What purpose does grit serve for Zebra Finches that lack teeth?
dietbirdanimalnutritionZebra Finch