Why do toucans toss their heads back before swallowing food?

Toucans toss their heads back before swallowing because of the unique way they handle food with their large, saw-edged bills. While they can use their bills to tear open fruit, they often pick up smaller food items daintily at the very tip of the bill. To move this food into the throat for swallowing, the bird must flick or toss its head backward to propel the item into its mouth.12