After the food has become soaked within the crop, it passes from the crop to the stomach of the budgies which consists of two sections. First, the food finds its way into the proventriculus, which is the glandular portion of the stomach. It secretes digestive juices like for example hydrochloric acid and pepsin which break down the food. After that, the mashed food passes to the ventriculus (or gizzard) where the food is pounded and grinded up even more.

Tiny stones, grit and sand are needed for this mechanical work the second section of a budgie's stomach has to do. For this reason it is highly important to give grit and sand to your birds every day! Otherwise budgies can become sick from the lack of those tiny particles their digestive system needs.

Next, the food passes on to the small intestine where it is mixed with enzymes from the pancreas that play an important role in digesting starch, proteins and fat. Bile that origins from the liver breaks down larger sugar molecules.

The intestine of a bird is not long which guarantees a short retention period of the food within the digestive system. After the food is completely digested and has passed the whole intestine, it is passed through the single opening in the urogenital system of birds which is called the cloaca or vent. Everything leads into the cloaca: the intestine, the ureter and the crotches; feces, urine, sperm respectively eggs leave a bird's body through the cloaca.

By the way: Biologists claim that evolution gave two stomachs to birds because this means less weight for them. Those highly specialized stomachs do their work efficiently, so the food passes them quickly. It is important for birds that their food gives them energy as fast as possible.

Link tip: Do you want to discuss with experts and other bird owners about your bird's health? Then please feel free to visit the English forum of . Of course you will meet me there, too. My nickname is "Feenseeschwalbe".