Hi Tony,
I think Peter is correct. I’ve had a closer look by magnifying the picture and it looks like the tip of the tongue is bent downwards rather than it being forked. In general, the tongue of large raptors is deeply grooved longitudinally. I suspect that assists with directing body fluids of its prey items (e.g. blood) and drinking water down the throat.
Kind regards,
Stephen
Stephen Ambrose
Ryde NSW
From: Birding-Aus <birding-aus-bounces@birding-aus.org> On Behalf Of Peter Shute
Sent: 26 July 2020 1:24 AM
To: Tony Ashton <tonyashton0@gmail.com>; Birding-Aus <birding-aus@birding-aus.org>
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] White-bellied Sea-eagle forked tongue
From: Birding-Aus <birding-aus-bounces@birding-aus.org> on behalf of Tony Ashton <tonyashton0@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 25, 2020 3:48:51 PM
To: Birding-Aus <birding-aus@birding-aus.org>
Subject: [Birding-Aus] White-bellied Sea-eagle forked tongue
Hi all,
Can’t puzzle out why the bird pictured (seen at TownCommon Cons. Pk. yesterday appears to have curved forked extension to tongue.
Help!
Tony Ashton
