Is that all tongue?

[Jim Buescher]

This green heron appeared to gag or yawn and I was able to get a few frames. When I looked at the images I was amazed at what appeared to be his tongue. Everything is connected, it's not something it ate:eek:. My question is...is this all of it's tongue and what is the bird doing? He seemed normal otherwise.

Jim

[John McNamara]

Did you notice if he regurgitated anything? Bones? Shells? VERY cool photo anyway...

[Arlon Motsch]

Just looks like a mid morning yawn. That's his neck folded up under there and pushing his throat membrane up. Don't forget there is a foot of neck "S"d into the space under his chin... (-:}

[Jim Buescher]

John, no he did not regurgitate anything, it was just a quick "yawn" but as Arlon pointed out there is alot of neck there. I guess this must be normal, I just don't see many herons yawning:)
Thanks for the replies.

[John Chardine]

Jim- I'm pretty sure what you are look at is the hyoid bone of the heron being raised. This bone forms the foundation for the tougue and when raised up and down causes gular fluttering (like panting). The hyoid in humans is the bone down in your larynx.

(Caveat- I was not much of an anatomist in university!)

[Jim Buescher]

Jim- I'm pretty sure what you are look at is the hyoid bone of the heron being raised. This bone forms the foundation for the tougue and when raised up and down causes gular fluttering (like panting). The hyoid in humans is the bone down in your larynx.

Thanks John. That sounds like a pretty good technical description of what's going on. Now I can impress my birding friends next time I see it happen.:D

[Julie Kenward]

This is so weird...I just recently saw a green heron do the same thing but I saw it from the side view. I thought he was doing a display for a nearby female but this makes more sense.