How many times have I photographed Downy Woodpeckers? Somewhere between
one and ten thousand times, often in good light as they are not terribly
skittish. Today I got my best shot ever. Tongue in action.
Here's what Cornell has to say about woodpecker tongues: " The tongue of a
woodpecker, often covered with barbs or sticky saliva, can be extended a
considerable distance in order to dislodge ants and insect larvae from deep
crevices in wood and bark. For storage, the tongue is curled around the
back of the head between the skull and skin."
https://www.birds.cornell.edu/wp_about/biology.html
Also among my hundred or so siskins is Goldy, see image. He;s far brighter
than the other scads of siskins right now.
https://atowhee.blog/2020/11/14/life-in-sis-city-is-a-learning-experience/
--
Harry Fuller
author of: *San Francisco's Natural History: Sand Dunes to Streetcars:*
https://ecowise.wordpress.com/2017/04/20/sfnh/
author of *Great Gray Owls of CA-OR-WA*:
https://ecowise.wordpress.com/2015/05/08/the-great-gray-owl-book/
author of *Freeway Birding*: *freewaybirding.com
<http://freewaybirding.com>*
birding website: http://www.towhee.net
my birding blog: atowhee.wordpress.com
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