Wild Birds of Europe

Levina de Ruijter said:
Nicely captured, Patrick. Must be fairly difficult for the bird to probe the ground. But it’s amazing how animals with deformities manage to survive.
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This is normal, they all can bend their beaks! Same bird:
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Levina de Ruijter said:
Really?! I had absolutely no idea! Amazing. I wonder how they control it and also how unique a feature it is, if other long-billed birds can do the same.
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I guess all the long-billed birds who feed(deep) in the mud can do it, how else can they open when in the mud? They also have sensors so they know when they encounter food.
 
pcs said:
I guess all the long-billed birds who feed(deep) in the mud can do it, how else can they open when in the mud? They also have sensors so they know when they encounter food.
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Snipe can certainly do it.
 
pcs said:
I guess all the long-billed birds who feed(deep) in the mud can do it, how else can they open when in the mud? They also have sensors so they know when they encounter food.
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Yes, excellent point: how else can they grab something in the mud! It makes sense. I just never gave it a thought.

Jack Dawe said:
Good shots! Is that a genuinely deformed beak or is it just a display of rhynchokinesis (the ability to flex the bill)?
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And it has a name even!
 
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