Gizzard

A bowl of chicken gizzards with onions.

The gizzard is an adapted stomach that is found in birds, earthworms, and other animals. It has a thick, muscular wall, enabling powerful grinding action.

Some animals that lack teeth will swallow stones to aid in digestion. Birds employ this mode of 'mastication'. "A bird swallows small bits of gravel that act as 'teeth' in the gizzard, breaking down hard food such as seeds and thus helping digestion." (Solomon et. al, 2002).

These stones are called gizzard stones and are usually smooth and round from the polishing action in the animal's stomach. When too smooth to do their required work, they may be passed or regurgitated.

Dinosaurs are also known to have used gizzard stones. This has been discovered by finding groups of polished stones within the area occupied by a dinosaur skeleton.

The gizzards of poultry are a popular food the world over. Grilled chicken gizzards are sold as street food in China, Taiwan, Japan, Philippines and the rest of Southeast Asia. Stewed gizzards are eaten as a snack in Portugal, while pickled turkey gizzards are a traditional food in some parts of the Midwestern United States. In the Southern United States, the gizzard is typically served fried, sometimes eaten with hot or honey mustard sauce.

Sources

Solomon, E.P., Berg L.P., and Martin D.W., 2002. Biology Sixth Edition. Thomson Learning Inc., Australia, Canada, Mexico, Singapore, Spain, United Kingdom, United States pp. 664

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