I’m not sure what is going on, but I have been seeing an increasing number of deformed Bar-tailed Godwits (Limosa lapponica) recently. Just today I saw the bird below, as well as another that had an upper and lower mandible that cross over. I can’t imagine what could be causing this beyond genetic deformity.
Does anyone have an insight into these deformities?
#1 by Denis Wilson on January 4, 2010 - 10:36 pm
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Hi Sebastian
.
Its hard to imagine that bird feeding successfully, yet it must have done so – long enough to have survived the migration to Australia.
Amazing.
Cheers
Denis
#2 by Sebastian on January 5, 2010 - 6:48 pm
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Indeed! I watched it for a while but unfortunately I couldn’t get a snap of it even attempting to feed as it was high tide.
#3 by Kerri on January 6, 2010 - 7:39 am
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You got great shots detailing the problem. He looks healthy otherwise, right?
And thanks for stopping by my blog. I could use some of your warm weather right now
Kerri´s last blog ..Choices
#4 by Mat on January 6, 2010 - 9:02 am
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try googling up the word: “rhynchokinesis”
cheers
Mat
#5 by Denis Wilson on January 6, 2010 - 1:33 pm
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Hi Sebastian
I sent a note about your Godwit beak posting to the Canberra Ornithologists Group last night, and got the same answer as Mat has provided above.
It seems it is a natural flexibility of the beak (and therefore temporary) – not a deformity, as it appeared.
Seems amazing, but I am not a bird.
Cheers
Denis
Denis Wilson´s last blog ..Hyacinth Orchid (Dipodium roseum)
#6 by Sebastian on January 6, 2010 - 2:54 pm
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Thanks all. I have never heard of such an ability. It seems absolutely extraordinary to me!
Thanks Denis for helping me get to the bottom of this. I will have to keep an extra eye out from now on…
#7 by Tony Ashton on January 6, 2010 - 4:45 pm
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Crashed modem means they’ve all beaten me to it: natural causes strike again.
#8 by Denis Wilson on January 7, 2010 - 12:28 pm
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Hi Sebastian
Another link – to a Queensland site, this time – sent to me from another Canberra birder, Steve Holliday.
http://www.sunbittern.com/gallery-rhynchokinesis.html
For info.
Denis
Denis Wilson´s last blog ..Hyacinth Orchid (Dipodium roseum)
#9 by Sebastian on January 7, 2010 - 4:18 pm
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That site’s a beaut Denis. Learning about this has been fun! I was talking to some birders on the Esplanade today and none of them had heard of it either.
Amazing how often we miss what is in plain sight!