is this bird's tongue a tool?

i'm looking at a couple of photos i took of a Cedar Waxwing and it seems to me the tongue has a spear and barb attached to its tongue.

in the first pic you can see what i'm saying:

Quite a ways down the page they talk about their special tongue.

http://www.hiltonpond.​org/ThisWeek091111.htm​l

Nice captures!

gorgeous photos and you're right, it's tongue does appear to splice the berries.

Outstanding photos

Fantastic observation. The tongue in the first must be just as it looks, like a little spear almost. I am sure all the smarter birders knew of this but I have not. Great job, excellent shots as well. Grand job.

thanks for all the responses. i found a pretty good close up, here:

http://2.bp.blogspot.c​om …+the+Cedar+Waxw​ing+wm.jpg

definitely designed to help the bird swallow berries.

Interesting. News to me. Good shots too.