What specialized foraging behavior, enabled by the bill structure, do Whimbrels employ to find buried prey?
Answer
Probing deep into the sediment to extract buried invertebrates
The Whimbrel's feeding strategy centers around a behavior known as probing, which is made possible by its highly specialized, decurved bill. This action involves methodically walking, stopping, and then rapidly jabbing the bill deep into the soft sediment, such as mud or sand. The unique curvature of the bill functions as an extension of the bird's sensory apparatus, allowing it to effectively feel for and grasp prey items that are entirely hidden beneath the substrate. This capability grants them a distinct competitive advantage over shorebirds possessing straight bills, as they can access subterranean food sources like worms and mollusks crucial for their high energy demands.
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