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Rhynchokinesis in the Common Snipe

on 13th March 2014

“I am grateful to Hans Peeters for pointing out a feature I saw but had not recognised – Rhynchokinesis. When I posted a video of a Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) HERE (see second half of the video for the behaviour), Hans commented: ‘Amar, you didn’t point out the best part – that in your wonderful little video one can clearly see how the TIP of the maxilla (upper mandible) can be raised or flexed upward, independent of the rest of the bill. A perfect alligator forceps for grabbing worms and such buried deep in the mud. Very nice, and rarely demonstrated!’

“Rhynchokinesis is the ability possessed by some birds to flex their upper mandible and is associated with the ‘deep probing feeding method’. See examples: HERE.

“For the snipe, this allows it to open just the tip of its bill, when the bill is stuck in the mud foraging. An elegant mechanism to get prey.

“More scientific details in this article: Sora M. Estrella, José A. Masero. The use of distal rhynchokinesis by birds feeding in water. The Journal of Experimental Biology 210, 3757-3762, 2007 LINK.

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
2nd March 2013

Location: Malim Nawar Wetlands, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Extensive ex-tin mining area with pond/lakes, wetlands, fish farming

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

5 Responses

  1. Thanks for sharing this rarely seen ability of the mandible being flexed. Have not seen anything like this. Still lots to learn about birds. 🙂

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