[newgeezer]

Your theory gives a whole, new meaning to that term, "bird-brained." :-)

[whattajoke]

re: woodpeckers, back in the day, woodpeckers competed with other birds for the same bugs under bark. Loose bark which was more easily removed... something a mere robin can do today. Longer tongues improved their chances. Over time, woodpeckers evolved more traits that allowed them to seek out harder to reach bugs in harder to pry/poke through bark. Competition for food was reduced, woodpecker fitness was increased. Over time, their skulls became even more shock absorbing, their beaks tougher, and tongues more modified. Now, it appears, woodpekcer competition is reduced to fellow woodpeckers, which is more or less an ideal situation.

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