Kites have always been considered to be very unlikely vagrants to Iceland. Many men have been anxious to learn the language of birds, for they are wise and can tell many things, both of the past and future. There is but one way to learn the bird language and that is a dangerous one for it is by keeping the tongue of a kite in the mouth, and this bird is of a poisonous nature. The tongue is to be cut out and kept in honey two days and three nights. It is then to be kept under the tongue, but nowhere else in the mouth, for it will cause sudden death if allowed to slip from under the tongue.
Vilhjalmur, Stefansson. ‘Icelandic Beast and Bird Lore.’ The Journal of American Folklore, 1906-10-01.