Re: Do ducks have tongues? Is that really what duck tongue is in Chinese rest?

Yes, ducks and other birds do have tongues, James.  And traditionally when 
any roast duck dish is prepared in Chinese cooking, many of the other body 
parts - tongues as well as hearts, livers, wings, feet - are used for other 
meal items.

As to what the bony material in the tongues that you have sampled is, I 
can't say without examining it.  I would suspect one of three explanations 
- when the tongues are removed, there may be some surrounding bone left 
attached; or
- many bird tongues have a very bumpy, hard surface (remember they don't 
have teeth) and this may result in the bony texture you have observed; or
- there may not be an adequate supply of duck tongues available to the 
restaurants resulting in their having to substitute with an alternative 
bird/part (though I don't think sparrow necks would be an allowed 
substitution).

Next time you and your wife partake of a duck tongue dish, look at the bony 
material closely.  If it is a chain of a number of small, interlocking 
bones, it would be from the neck/back area.  If it is a single, relatively 
smooth bone, it could be from the jaw or elsewhere.  If it is small, 
seemingly unattached  "bones", then it is more likely hard cartilage in the 
bird tongue.