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Fabs Forns
07-06-2008, 06:33 AM
I had posted this in Avian Wild and Free before we had this wonderful Forum, but I think it's a very interesting subject to have here and it refers to the ability of the bird to flex the upper mandible. I don't know the purpose of this, although we've seen the behavior frequently in Godwits. I'm sure there's other similar birds that can do the same.

I want to thank John and Juan (same name in different language :)) for all the explanations, in a quick time this has become one of my favorites places in BPN.

Beth Goffe
07-06-2008, 10:14 AM
Fabs, I think woodcocks do this, too.

James Prudente
07-06-2008, 10:48 AM
Her is a link that explains this capability.

http://lib.bioinfo.pl/pmid:17951416

Axel Hildebrandt
07-06-2008, 11:11 AM
Thanks for posting this link, James! I would like to know how these birds do this physiologically.

I've seen this in Hudsonian Godwits, too.

Sharna Lee
07-06-2008, 11:22 AM
Wow Fabs. I've never seen a bird do this. Excellent photo btw.
Thanks for the link James.

Sharna

Alfred Forns
07-06-2008, 09:54 PM
They sure seem to do the behavior more than any other shorebird?

Steve Metildi
07-07-2008, 01:23 AM
For some reason I can't get the photo I have of a Long-billed Dowitcher showing this behavior to load.

Steve

John Chardine
07-07-2008, 05:34 AM
Steve- Are you getting an error message at the load window? Tell me more and we will see if we can assist.

Barry Goggin
07-08-2008, 08:44 PM
Some nice examples of the anatomy involved are shown here http://books.google.com/books?id=mTpJm8MaIF4C&pg=PA426&lpg=PA426&dq=distal+rhynchokinesis&source=web&ots=RqleX5tP75&sig=2FWnLtqYNnvslnx90EySRGTWgu8&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result#PPA426,M1
I know the terminology in the text is a pain but the pictures say it all
Also the introduction from this paper explains a few different types of movement though also filled with anatomical terminology.
https://openaccess.leidenuniv.nl/dspace/bitstream/1887/557/5/03.pdf

John Chardine
07-09-2008, 05:59 AM
Thanks Barry. This is pretty heavy anatomy, but it is useful in showing how detailed these studies can be, and if you follow along you get an understanding of how the birds do this remarkable thing.

Barry Goggin
07-09-2008, 08:06 AM
John, you are right. The pictures in the first link show the flexibility along the beak using open triangles and really show that the beak, often thought as being an inflexible structure, is actually quite flexible in many species. Given the variety of prey, prey capture techniques and environments birds deal with, it makes sense that these adaptations have arisen and in a variety of forms. That's basically the bottom line of those references.

Steve Metildi
07-09-2008, 10:14 AM
Here's another example. I photographed this Long-billed Dowitcher in Irvine, California a few years ago.

Steve

Fabs Forns
07-09-2008, 08:59 PM
Hmmmm, interesting, Steve, never saw it in just the tip :)

John Chardine
08-14-2008, 10:48 AM
Finally captured a poor image of "rhynchokinesis" for myself. This is a dowitcher (short-billed I think) showing just the tip of the bill open. This allows them to probe deep into the mud then just open the very tip of the bill to capture a prey item like a worm. It would be much harder to open more of the bill because it is essentially trapped in the mud. Image created at Sackville Waterfowl Park on 9 August 2008.

Ian Cassell
04-15-2011, 11:46 PM
Reviving an old thread ...

The dowitchers were doing it all over this morning!

Canon 7D
Canon EF 400mm f5.6L