Does anyone know what the protrusion is that is below the Snowy Egrets beak area? It has most of us photographers stumped here at Bolsa Chica. I asked one of the most respected birders here and he didn't know. Lots of speculation but nothing definitive.

Not enough detail visible. But based on the location if I had to make a guess I'd say maybe a fish fin that stuck through the bottom of it's mouth and broke off.

Or part of a fish hook. Nice image.

Icarus said:

Or part of a fish hook. Nice image.

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That would be my guess as well.

Great pic regardless Michael.

It's the tongue. The tongue of egrets and herons can sometimes poke through the soft tissue of the bottom of the mouth.

Here is a cropped shot of a GBH I took a while back and a link to an article.

M R Opp said:

It's the tongue. The tongue of egrets and herons can sometimes poke through the soft tissue of the bottom of the mouth.

Here is a cropped shot of a GBH I took a while back and a link to an article.
View attachment 73372

Stick out your tongue and say 'Ugh!' - Peace River Wildlife Center

At Peace River Wildlife Center, our primary mission is to rehabilitate orphaned and injured native Florida wildlife and get the healthy individuals back

prwildlife.org

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Very interesting. Learn something everyday on this forum. Thanks

Ralph said:

Very interesting. Learn something everyday on this forum. Thanks

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Yes, yes we do!

I thought it was the tongue but I couldn't confirm it even with a knowledgeable birder. Most people I asked didn't even know what I was talking about. Thanks M R Opp for clearing up the mystery.

Could it be something hanging out of the right side of the egret's bill, not protruding through the bottom of lower mandible?

MR OPP, Thats great information. thank you
I knew exactly what the tongue looks like on Herons and Egrets but didnt know it could poke through in that area and have never seen that happen. Great info

not a lot of detail, to far, but I do not think it is a fish hook

Here is the best close up I can get. It shows its clearly not a fish hook. I'm convinced its a tongue that has slipped and protruded through its neck as shown in the article link provided by M R OPP.

MJR said:

Here is the best close up I can get. It shows its clearly not a fish hook. I'm convinced its a tongue that has slipped and protruded through its neck as shown in the article link provided by M R OPP.View attachment 73419

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It is most definitely the tongue. Nice job on the closeup.

Thanks for the excellent clarification!

Yup, now you can make it out

If anyone was wondering if the tongue issue interfered with the Snowy Egret's ability to swallow I would think not. Seems the tongue can't get in the way. A straight shot down the pipe. Here in this image you can see the hole that the tongue has punched through the skin.