What two components does the Goldfinch utilize to maneuver and extract the actual seed from a dried flower head like teasel?
Answer
Its tongue and beak tips
The mechanical process of feeding on dried flower heads, such as teasel, requires remarkable dexterity. The European Goldfinch inserts its fine bill deep into the dried structure. Once positioned, the bird uses a highly specialized combination of its tongue and the very tips of its beak to carefully maneuver and ultimately extract the tiny seed, known as an achene, away from the surrounding chaff. This coordinated action highlights the precise motor skills honed by generations of feeding on these complex natural structures.
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