Which bird has a tongue that wraps around its skull when not in use?

The woodpecker has a tongue that can wrap around the back of its skull when it is not in use. This extraordinary structure lets the bird extend its tongue deep into holes in wood to extract ants, beetle larvae, and other prey.

The tongue itself is supported by a specialized hyoid apparatus: elastic tissues and long bony or cartilaginous elements run from the mouth around the skull. In some woodpecker species, this apparatus can extend toward the forehead or even around the eye sockets. The exact shape and reach vary among species, so the popular image is a simplified description of a real anatomical adaptation.

Woodpeckers also have reinforced skulls, stiff tail feathers, and powerful bills for hammering into trees. Their tongues may be covered with backward-facing bristles or barbs, and some species produce sticky saliva, helping them pull prey from tunnels. A common mix-up is assuming every bird with a long tongue has this feature: hummingbirds and toucans have specialized tongues, but the skull-wrapping adaptation is associated with woodpeckers.