What does the tongue of a Seagull look like?

Birds do not have teeth, so their tongues and beaks are adapted to foraging (looking for food) and feeding.

The European Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) is a large seagull. It feeds on fish and crustaceans, such as crabs and shrimp. It is also a scavenger, feeding on human scraps. 

Its tongue, and the tongue of all seagulls, is pink and tapered in a long triangular shape. It is wider at the base and narrower at the tip. It fits neatly into the shape of its beak.

Fish-eating birds, such as seagulls, have small narrow tongues so that they don’t get in the way when they’re eating a fish whole, head first. 

Location of photographs: Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM

European Mallow Skipper Butterfly