In HANZAB zirkelning has been applied to inserting the bill and then opening once inserted, as well as probing with an open bill. The following is from the White-browed Babbler entry:
When probing crevices in bark, do not appear to ‘zirkeln’ or ‘gape’ (where bill inserted into crevice, then forcefully
opened to expand hole, giving greater access to prey).
There is no mention of zirkelning in the godwit entries.
Probably enough on zirkelning.
Steve
From: Philip Veerman <>
Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2023 4:50 PM
To: 'Geoffrey Dabb' <>; 'Wallaces' <>; 'Kevin Windle' <>; 'Chris Davey' <>
Subject: RE: [Canberrabirds] Zirkelning - word of the day!
The skeletal movements I described (cranial kinesis) just appeal to me as interesting to see. It can be seen best in a fairly fresh skull, once all the flesh has
been removed but before it dries. Once the skull is fully dried, the movement is harder to observe, without breaking the bones, although the bits should still be present. “Zirkelning” would appear to potentially go with it, although these are not quite the
same thing.
About
Dominique G Homberger, I believe I met her years ago. I think she gave a talk to COG (or was she a Canberra resident?).
Philip
From: Geoffrey Dabb [m("iinet.net.au","gdabb");">]
Sent: Wednesday, 30 August, 2023 1:15 PM
To: 'Wallaces'; 'Philip Veerman'; 'Kevin Windle'
Subject: RE: [Canberrabirds] Zirkelning - word of the day!
From Dominique H
From: Dominique G Homberger
m("lsu.edu","zodhomb");">
Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2023 12:56 PM
To: 'Geoffrey Dabb' m("iinet.net.au","gdabb");">
Subject: zirkeln (German) RE: [Canberrabirds] Zirkelning - word of the day!
Dear Geoffrey,
Kevin is very close!
“Zirkeln” = infinitive form in German of a verb meaning in English “open-bill probing” (see second paragraph in
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starling
). This movement is created by linking the raising of the maxilla to the lowering of the mandible by a “linkage ligament”.
The English term “Zirkelning” is extremely awkward and makes no sense even to a German-speaker. It would be much better to use the term “open-bill
probing”, which can be understood by anybody.
Cheers,
Dominique
Prof. Dr. Dominique G. Homberger
Immediate Past President, International Ornithologists’ Union http://www.internationalornithology.org/
Alumni Professor, FAAA, FAAAS, FAOS, FAWIS, FIOU, HLSNY
Dept. of Biological Sciences
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA 70803-1715
Phone: (225) 578-1747; Fax: (225) 578-2597
e-mail: m("lsu.edu","zodhomb");">
https://faculty.lsu.edu/dhomberger/index.php
https://www.lsu.edu/science/biosci/faculty-and-staff/faculty-pages/homberger.php
From: Geoffrey Dabb <m("iinet.net.au","gdabb");">>
Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2023 7:02 PM
To: Dominique G Homberger <m("lsu.edu","zodhomb");">>
Subject: FW: [Canberrabirds] Zirkelning - word of the day!
more
From: Kevin Windle <m("anu.edu.au","Kevin.Windle");">>
Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2023 9:31 AM
To: Philip Veerman <m("pcug.org.au","pveerman");">>; 'Geoffrey Dabb' <m("iinet.net.au","gdabb");">>;
'Wallaces' <m("bigpond.net.au","skcbf");">>; 'Canberra birds' <m("lists.canberrabirds.org.au","Canberrabirds");">>
Subject: RE: [Canberrabirds] Zirkelning - word of the day!
German Zirkel = pair of compasses; also (fig.) – circle (Kreis). So the verb
zirkeln, in addition to its usual meaning (to gauge, measure), may possibly have a sense of ‘making circular movements’. Would that match the action described in HANZAB?
Kevin
Yes, you are correct Philip. The term applies to having the beak open while probing with no suggestion that it refers to circular movements. The probing with the open beak can be of soil, bark or anything else.
Steve
That would seem very likely. More though about opening up a drawing compass to measure a radius, than the act of drawing a circle. It looks like a German word and
there are many other german words like that.
From: Kevin Windle [m("anu.edu.au","Kevin.Windle");">]
Sent: Wednesday, 30 August, 2023 9:31 AM
To: Philip Veerman; 'Geoffrey Dabb'; 'Wallaces'; 'Canberra birds'
Subject: RE: [Canberrabirds] Zirkelning - word of the day!
German Zirkel = pair of compasses; also (fig.) – circle (Kreis). So the verb
zirkeln, in addition to its usual meaning (to gauge, measure), may possibly have a sense of ‘making circular movements’. Would that match the action described in HANZAB?
Kevin
Geoffrey’s photo shows cranial kinesis, which is something that allows the bird’s upper mandible to hinge at the base and thus move upwards. Most obviously shown
in parrots. So birds can open their beak by moving either or both mandibles (unlike mammals for example, that can only lower the lower jaw). This is done by moving the quadrate bone forward and the jugal bone slides forwards (and backwards) against the palatine
bone. Only a few birds (such as this godwit) go even further with a hinge in the middle of the upper mandible that allows it to also bend upwards.
I am thinking this zirkelning is something else again, from what these waders do, involving the opening of the lower mandible whilst pushing against the soil. Or
maybe it is a combination of both. I am wondering if this is a German word.
Philip
Excellent, Steve.
While going through entries in HANZAB online today (yes HANZAB online is still alive!), I came across the word
'zirkelning', a term I was not familiar with. It is described in the text but not defined in the HANZAB glossary. Googling it returned two source which used the similar words to HANZAB. It is also not in The
Ornithologists Dictionary (Lynx).
It turns out that most of us have probably seen starlings zirkelning – probing with the bill open.
From HANZAB Common Starling entry:
“Probe ground for invertebrates (Phillipps & Lindsay 1948; Badman 1979; Wilson 1979). Single probes can sometimes comprise
several thrusts of bill (East & Pottinger 1975), and often accompanied by bill gaping (‘zirkelning’), birds opening bill c. 2 cm while embedded in earth to enlarge openings; technique appears to
be learnt when young (Gannon 1932; Thomas 1957; East & Pottinger 1975; Martin 1987; Kloot 1993); also use zirkelning action to separate grass (Terrill 1946).”
The search facility of HANZAB online returned four species in which zirkelning has been observed: Common Starling, South Island Saddleback, Victoria’s Riflebird and Grey Currawong.
I have added zirkelning to the HANZAB Glossary.
Cheers
Steve
