Canada geese challenge their enemies by honking and rushing forward with head low, mouth open and tongue raised.  Normally we humans don’t see this up close but a goose challenged David Amamoto and revealed its amazing tongue to the camera.

Since Canada geese don’t have hands, their mouths are equipped with the tools they need for plucking grasses, sedges, grains and berries on land and in the water.

Their bills are serrated for cutting stems and threshing grain.  Their tongues have serrated edges for sieving water from each mouthful of underwater food.  The tongue’s crosswise bumps help grip the vegetation.

Food doesn’t get away from this serrated tongue.

Fortunately David escaped without being nipped.

(photo by David Amamoto)