Song Thrush
Song Thrush / turdus philomelos. Ilkeston, Derbyshire. 12/06/19.
'NOT A GOOD DAY TO BE A WORM.'
Here is an example of selective feeding that I've referred to before in this set of images.
The Song Thrush pulled up the worm that's on the ground first and after holding it in his/her beak momentarily, suddenly dropped it and extracted a second worm from the same place. This too was dropped and the bird peered down at them with head tilted to the side. It then picked up the second worm, manipulated it so both ends were held in it's beak. That done it flew off, presumably to it's nest, leaving it's first catch abandoned ... (not for long though, as an eagle-eyed Blackbird hopped over and soon snaffled it!)
If anyone else has seen this selective feeding behaviour or has a theory about it, I'd love to hear from them. I've noticed it happen a few times now, by both Blackbirds and Song Thrushes. It can't just be about manageable beakfuls either, as sometimes a worm has been discarded by a bird holding quite a number of worms.
Where's a worm expert when you need one!
BEST VIEWED LARGE.
Song Thrush
Song Thrush / turdus philomelos. Ilkeston, Derbyshire. 12/06/19.
'NOT A GOOD DAY TO BE A WORM.'
Here is an example of selective feeding that I've referred to before in this set of images.
The Song Thrush pulled up the worm that's on the ground first and after holding it in his/her beak momentarily, suddenly dropped it and extracted a second worm from the same place. This too was dropped and the bird peered down at them with head tilted to the side. It then picked up the second worm, manipulated it so both ends were held in it's beak. That done it flew off, presumably to it's nest, leaving it's first catch abandoned ... (not for long though, as an eagle-eyed Blackbird hopped over and soon snaffled it!)
If anyone else has seen this selective feeding behaviour or has a theory about it, I'd love to hear from them. I've noticed it happen a few times now, by both Blackbirds and Song Thrushes. It can't just be about manageable beakfuls either, as sometimes a worm has been discarded by a bird holding quite a number of worms.
Where's a worm expert when you need one!
BEST VIEWED LARGE.