SB Dowitcher with odd bill

I ound a small flock of Dowitchers on the beach in Gulfport yesterday. At first I thought it was a deformity, but then realized that it was the same individual in both the attached. Second and third images to follow.

Second image..

Here are details comparing the two images. Noticed that the feather details are identical.

Here is one I took yesterday in Long Island, NY. I believe the upper bill may be soft. I was also perplexed.

Mike

Hi Bill,

It is called Rhynchokinesis, I wrote about it in a discussion post some time ago http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/bbs.cgi?a=vm&mr=44610&CGISESSID=cf558ac32ed54d61904eec8246f20c8d&u=32665

Rhynchokinesis is the ability of some birds to flex thier upper mandible.

Very interesting, Mia. I haven't seen this before, although it's rare I see the SB Dowitcher. Michael, I notice that Wikipedia shows the SB Dowitcher first on the list of shorebirds with this ablility. But you know, for the life of me I can't see the advantage of such behavior

Bill, I found an article about a theory on the use of distal rhynchokinesis here: http://jeb.biologists.org/content/210/21/3757.short

Great thread - sure is new behavior to me, and very interesting.
Sandy

I've noticed this in SB Dowitchers and I think also in marbled godwits. I thought it interesting that they have flexible bills, but I really didn't give it a second thought. I've also seen a bird with a knot in its beak right at the base of the flexible part, as if a scar from an injury.

Here is a good look a the anatomy.