On Monday I said I may try something cultural, but I’m afraid I lied. This bizarre looking thing caught my eye instead:
Any idea what this is and what it’s from?
As usual, suggestions, observations and questions in the comments section below and I will do my best to provide answers and guidance throughout the day. Good luck!
Zygoma 
It’s bone, it’s very light bone, it’s to a bird. It’s to a flying bird. It’s for wing muscle attachment. It’s a keel. And part of the bird’s larynx or tube like that is still attached.
Well spotted! Now, which species?
I think it looks like a keel as well. I see tons of them on the Pheasant Woods where foxes eat them. This one is big, though.
You’re right – it is a sternum keel, and a big one at that, so what species do you think it might belong to?
Its a bird sternum with the larynx and other bits and bobs. I couldn’t tell you which one, but its quite big- Possibly a large gull? Or something of similar size.
Correct about the what, but it’s from something bigger than a large gull…
Really not sure its a swan. The keel doesn’t look right. The penguins do look much more similar. So I’ll say its a penguin, but leave it at that for now.
Is it a trumpeter swan? They have large, convoluted trachea that goes through the sternal keel so that it can act as a resonating chamber.
A swan or a pelican? Looks like some pretty massive muscles were attached to that thing…
Although, I do like the idea of it being a bizarre accessory of some kind!
Carlos.
I think it’s from a Penguin. I thought at first it might be an Emperor or King Penguin, but from the scale bar it’s too small so instead I’m going for a Humboldt Penguin.
Looks like we’re down to a play-off between swan and penguin. One is correct, the other wrong. But which?
the hint is in the larynx/syrinx paraphernalia!
If it’s too small to be a big penguin, then isn’t that too small to be a swan? Swans are huge. Pelicans and Swans are two of the biggest birds, ask a pilot who sucked either one into his engines and he’ll tell you. Oh, he can’t. He’s dead.
My guess is whooper swan.
I googled trumpeter swan sternum and got
http://scienceblogs.com/tetrapodzoology/2009/04/elongate_avian_trachea.php
and it looks most like a whooper swan.
You can see the furcula ! Furculas are one of my favourite bones.
Furculas are great bones, which may be why they sound so dirty to so many of my unenlightened conspecifics.
I think I’m with Jake on this one, looks a lot like a Whooper Swan to me.
Why would penguins have hollow keels? Makes more sense it’s a big whoop of a swan.