Fissirostrate

/ˌfɪsɪˈrɒstreɪt/ adjective

Definition

Having a beak or bill that is split, cleft, or deeply forked; characteristic of birds with divided beaks.

Etymology

Variant form of 'fissirostral' using the suffix '-ate' instead of '-al' to describe the characteristic of having a cleft beak, derived from Latin 'fissus' (cleft) + 'rostrum' (beak).

Kelly Says

The fissirostrate shape of a barn swallow's mouth acts like a scoop—as it flies through clouds of gnats and mosquitoes, those split edges help funnel prey into its mouth.

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