Feeding little rufescent tiger-herons

08-06-11 © Claudia y Tito Di Mauro

Back in the nest with the crop filled with food the adult needs some time to deliver the first piece. The adult's neck is swollen. The piece is a whole fish which the youngest chick is unable to swallow. After some struggle the oldest one gets hold of it and engulfs it easily. The adult regurgitates another whole fish in the nest. On this occasion the tail of the fish is seen to fall last. This means that the fish is regurgitated headfirst. But it is also eaten headfirst. I wonder how they turn it upside down. Now with nobody to compete the youngest chick devotes to pecking at it. Being hatched with almost a week difference enhances a physical gap which may be overcome if food is abundant