Bird Behaviour in Action
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the horbills are quite large birds used to feed on fruit and mainly insects,arachnids and small vertebrates.
but they are not used to kill aduld birds.
in this case an African Grey Hornbill (tockus nasutus) has cought and killed a social weaver.
"a strange behaviour"
Etosha National Park ,Namibia
original 3K file here:
Seagulls are fondly remembered in Utah for helping Mormon settlers deal with a plague of crickets. The seagull is now the state bird of Utah and a monument in Salt Lake City commemorates the event, known as the ‘Miracle of the Gulls’. Seagulls are very clever. They learn, remember and even pass on behaviours, such as stamping their feet in a group to imitate rainfall and trick earthworms to come to the surface. Seagulls’ intelligence is clearly demonstrated by a range of different feeding behaviours, such as dropping hard-shelled molluscs onto rocks so that they break open so they can eat them, and following ploughs in fields where they know upturned grubs and other food sources will be plentiful.
Great Crested Grebe - Podiceps Cristatus
The great crested grebe has an elaborate mating display. Like all grebes, it nests on the water's edge, since its legs are set relatively far back and it is thus unable to walk very well. Usually two eggs are laid, and the fluffy, striped young grebes are often carried on the adult's back. In a clutch of two or more hatchlings, male and female grebes will each identify their 'favourites', which they alone will care for and teach
Unusually, young grebes are capable of swimming and diving almost at hatching. The adults teach these skills to their young by carrying them on their back and diving, leaving the chicks to float on the surface; they then re-emerge a few feet away so that the chicks may swim back onto them.
The great crested grebe feeds mainly on fish, but also small crustaceans, insects small frogs and newts.
This species was hunted almost to extinction in the United Kingdom in the 19th century for its head plumes, which were used to decorate hats and ladies' undergarments. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds was set up to help protect this species, which is again a common sight.
The great crested grebe and its behaviour was the subject of one of the landmark publications in avian ethology: Julian Huxley's 1914 paper on The Courtship‐habits of the Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus).
Population:
UK breeding:
4,600 pairs
UK wintering:
19,000 individuals
SELECTED FOR EXPOSITION AT 27^/28^ CPI "FESTIVAL DE L'OISEAU ET DE LA NATURE" 2017 AND 2018.
SELECTED FOR EXPOSITION AT 17^ CIPN "RN MARAIS DE SENE" 2017.
SELECTED FOR 2017 AFRICA GEOGRAPHIC PC PRINTED YEARBOOK.
COMMENDED FINALIST AT BPOTY, BIRD BEHAVIOUR THEME, 2020 AND PUBLISHED AS COVER FRONT PAGE OF BPOTY PC YEARBOOK 2020.
FINALIST AT NATUREINPHOTO PC, WINGED PEOPLE THEME, 2020.
FINALIST AT PANGOLIN PHOTO SAFARIS PC 2020, BIRDS OF THE WORLD THEME.
AWARDED AT 24TH CIPN MONTIER-EN-DER 2021, "ARRET SUR IMAGE" SPECIAL PRIZE.
FINALIST, TOP 100, AT WILD ART POTY PC, MOTION THEME, 2021.
AWARDED AS 3^ CLASS. AT WILDLIFE VETS IPC, BIRDS THEME, 2021.
SHORTLISTED AT WANDERLUST TPOTY PC, WILDLIFE THEME, 2022.
WINNER AT FESTIVAL NATURE AIN, FAUNE THEME, 2025.
GETTY IMAGES CONTRIBUTOR SELECTED ON OCTOBER, 2017.
after a quick lunch on some insects this african hoopoe (upupa africana) began to dance like a crazy :-)
it's probably something like a "display" behaviour.
hoopoe was in to the shadow and "dancing" 1/1600 isnt enough in these situations.but digital noise is lurking so we have to find a compromise.
although 4000iso here the 3K HD file:
www.flickr.com/photos/187458160@N06/49703926807/sizes/o/
Kruger national park ,SA
A black Swan attacking a Muscovy duck.
Hope you will enjoy this shot.
Many thanks to everyone who chooses to leave a comment or add this image to their favorites, it is much appreciated.
©Elsie van der Walt, all rights reserved. Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. If you are interested in using one of my images, please send me an E-mail (elsie.vdwalt@gmail.com).
This tiny Wren appeared on the top of the bird feeder outside my window and immediately started singing in a huge voice. It had only just fledged and perhaps had not yet learned all the secretive behaviour typical of a Wren, which is usually heard rather than seen.
It stayed all morning and then came back in the evening.
Perhaps this was its first song? Regardless, it made my day.
This photo shows it larger than life-size - for comparison, look at the screwhead in the feeder.
Eurasian Wren, Troglodytes troglodytes.
In Explore
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Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros (M)
The black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) is a small passerine bird in the redstart genus Phoenicurus. Like its relatives, it was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family (Turdidae), but is now known to be an Old World flycatcher (Muscicapidae). Other common names are Tithy's redstart, blackstart and black redtail.
It is not very closely related to the common redstart. As these are separated by different behaviour and ecological requirements.
It is a widespread breeder in south and central Europe and Asia and northwest Africa, from Great Britain and Ireland (where local) south to Morocco, east to central China. It is resident in the milder parts of its range, but northeastern birds migrate to winter in southern and western Europe and Asia, and north Africa. It nests in crevices or holes in buildings.
In Britain, it is most common as a passage and winter visitor, with only 20–50 pairs breeding.
On passage it is fairly common on the east and south coasts, and in winter on the coasts of Wales and western and southern England, with a few also at inland sites. Migrant black redstarts arrive in Britain in October or November and either move on or remain to winter, returning eastward in March or April. They also winter on the south and east coasts of Ireland.
The species originally inhabited stony ground in mountains, particularly cliffs, but since about 1900 has expanded to include similar urban habitats including bombed areas during and after World War II, and large industrial complexes that have the bare areas and cliff-like buildings it favours; in Great Britain, most of the small breeding population nests in such industrial areas.
Population:
UK breeding:
19-44 pairs
UK wintering:
400 birds
I was observing a group of sea gulls next to the Yarra River when I took this shot.
I am sure you would have seen these postures and calls before.
I was also curious about these postures and their meanings.
Here you can see two common postures.
The gull in the front is showing the Forward Posture.
As the name implies, this posture is all about displaying a forward motion by holding the body roughly horizontal or slightly diagonally with the neck kinked characteristically.
The tail can sometimes be spread; the bill is either slightly opened or closed.
The Forward posture is used in the following situations:
1) hostile encounters
2) pair formation sequences
3) as a response to a bird approaching in flight
When used in hostile encounters on land, it often includes running towards an opponent, whereas in a pair formation sequence both gulls move parallel to each other
The Gull behind is doing the Mew Call
The Mew call is accompanied by a characteristic Arch-posture in which the head is held down and the wings are held slightly away from the body.
It is usually performed while walking but can be performed while standing, flying, or swimming as well.
The Mew call is used in both aggressive and non-aggressive situations:
Aggressive
1) In defense of food or territory, aimed at an opponent
2 )To attract a mate for support in territory defense
Non-aggressive
1) To attract a partner (also for courtship)
2) To call chicks that have wandered too far from the nest
3) To gather chicks for feeding or after they have been hiding after a disturbance
4) As a nest-relief invitation
5) As a call performed upon landing.
Many thanks for your visit, comments, invites and faves...it is always appreciated...
Peaceful Sunday
Dove and Red-headed Finch.
Many thanks to everyone who chooses to leave a comment or add this image to their favorites, it is much appreciated.
©Elsie van der Walt, all rights reserved. Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. If you are interested in using one of my images, please send me an E-mail (elsie.vdwalt@gmail.com).
A beautiful woodpecker that is found in a small part of the country - a large part of South India and the Himalayan forest. It has a rich yellow and green mixed color which I found to be spectacular. The bird is tad bigger than many of the other woodpeckers I have seen. This is my second sighting and from what I could see, the behaviours are similar to the othr woodpeckers. The birds do come down to the middle canopy and that is where we shot them.
There is another Greater Yellownape as well but which is much bigger than this bird. I was fortunate enough to sight both of them.
Thanks so much in advance for your views, faves and feedback.
This Female Great Spotted Woodpecker had just landed on this small branch when the male came in above her and she suddenly dropped down and adopted this remarkable pose,flicking her tail up & down..behaviour that I have never seen before.
Taken in my local woods in Devon.
Rothschild's swordtail (left) and other butterfly eating minerals on river bank in Manu National Park.
Mud-puddling, or simply puddling, is a behaviour most conspicuous in butterflies, but occurs in other animals as well, mainly insects; they seek out nutrients in certain moist substances such as rotting plant matter, mud and carrion and they suck up the fluid. Where the conditions are suitable, conspicuous insects such as butterflies commonly form aggregations on wet soil, dung or carrion. From the fluids they obtain salts and amino acids that play various roles in their physiology, ethology and ecology.
Protesilaus earis, the Rothschild's swordtail, is a species of butterfly found in the Neotropical realm.
Peruvian Amazon Rainforest, Manú National Park
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A very beautiful and colorful nuthatch found in many parts of the country, but hard to sight unless one knows where to look.
They are typical nuthatches in behaviour and defy gravity looking for insects, larvae and grub on the tree trunks and branches. The colors are quite amazing - velvet / purple colored and quite small, maybe 10-13 cms long. These are also resident in the country and found in deciduous forests often sighted on the trunk walking around. In the last trip, we sighted them on the lower part once in a while.
Also, we sighted several of them much to our delight, but shooting them was very challenging due to their size and in the thick canopy.
Thank you so much in advance for your views, feedback and faves.
RKO_9069.
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Although they are not the only birds to engage in similar behaviour, gannets are famous for "billing" or “mutual fencing.” While it can happen any time both birds from a mated pair are at their nest site, it is quite routine when one bird returns to the nest after foraging for food or nesting material. The two gannets will face each other, often touching and calling. They then shake their heads side to side with their bills clacking together. They often bow, rub necks, and preen each other’s neck before taking up the more mundane activities of nesting in colonies, such as bickering and fighting with neighbors.
On this day 11 years ago I noticed this Goanna lizard hanging out at a popular picnic spot. Goannas are one of several species of lizards of the genus Varanus found in Australia and Southeast Asia.
Being predatory lizards, Goannas are often quite large, with sharp teeth and claws. They survive on smaller prey, but combine predatory and scavenging behaviour, which is why they are attracted to places where people gather and may feed them.
Like most lizards, goannas lay eggs. Most lay eggs in a nest or burrow, but some species lay their eggs inside termite mounds. This offers protection and incubation; additionally, the termites may provide a meal for the young as they hatch. Unlike some other species of lizards, Goannas do not have the ability to regrow limbs or tails.
I post this photo for the Happy Caturday theme "Behaviour". Generally Sethi's behaviour is that of most outdoor cats, he loves to roam the neighbourhood, to hunt and to fight. When he is at home he is a different cat, quite peaceful and cuddly and he can look incredibly innocent. What always makes me smile is the way he sticks the tip of his tongue out when he is focused on something interesting, this is so typical Sethi.
Happy Caturday !
It was interesting and entertaining to watch the feeding behaviours of both the 'i'iwi and the 'amakihi (endemic Hawaiian honeycreepers). Very flexible necks and often hanging off a branch. They pry flowers (like this māmane) open with their beak, then use their tongue to lap up the sweet liquid at the flower's base.
The lens is dirty because the Dragon always comes running towards me when I want to take a photo and touches the lens with his nose. We are still working on perfect photo model behaviour. :)
The second side of Timmy is the tender cuddler who likes to lie in my arm in bed and lay his head in my hand.
Happy Caturday 2.10.2021 "Signature behaviour"
Courtship behaviour of the great crested grebe.
great crested grebe
Haubentaucher
[Podiceps cristatus]
Feeding behaviour - Typically forages in shallow water. Often feeds very actively, sometimes running after minnows. May forage by walking forward while swinging its head back and forth with the tip of the bill in the water.
AHP East, Ottawa.
Common redshanks in breeding plumage are a marbled brown color, slightly lighter below. In winter plumage they become somewhat lighter-toned and less patterned, being rather plain greyish-brown above and whitish below. They have red legs and a black-tipped red bill, and show white up the back and on the wings in flight.
Clicked a long time back. When I approached the beach it was the Grey Heron that I first spotted and so I tried to get close hoping to get good shots. But it kept moving away from me. It was then that I spotted the Greater Flamingo. Since it was a new species for me my focus shifted to it. I tried to keep close to the Flamingo and spent a lot of time trailing it hoping to get good shots. It was then I noticed a change in the Grey Heron's behaviour. It suddenly seemed to want to get close to the Flamingo as if to attract my attention. It flew in close and kept coming in the frame as if it was jealous of all the attention I was lavishing on the Flamingo. Watching this scene what impressed me was the dignity which the Flamingo maintained, going about its business without a care and seemingly unaffected by the frivolity of the Heron. In the bargain I got good shots of both.
The rock pipit is a large stocky pipit, larger than a meadow pipit and smaller than a starling. It is streaky olive-brown above and dirty white underneath with dark streaking. It breeds around the coast where there are rocky beaches and most of the birds which breed in the UK are residents, with only the young birds dispersing once they become independent.
This Eurasian rock pipit is territorial at least in the breeding season, and year-round where it is resident. Males will sometimes enter an adjacent territory to assist the resident in repelling an intruder, behaviour only otherwise known from the African fiddler crab.
Click on image for larger view
We had a wonderful family dinner last night, celebrating Thanksgiving and enjoying family in from British Columbia. Lots of group pics and hugs......like this image of Waterbucks in Kenya, happy to see each other. :)
The name kestrel is given to several members of the falcon genus, Falco. Kestrels are most easily distinguished by their typical hunting behaviour which is to hover at a height of around 10–20 metres over open country and swoop down on prey, usually small mammals, lizards or large insects. Other falcons are more adapted to active hunting in flight. Kestrels are notable for usually having mostly brown in their plumage.
Halcyon senegalensis
L'offrande de nourriture du mâle à la femelle est un comportement très fréquent... avant les choses plus sérieuses...
Parc national Kruger, Afrique du Sud
The offering of food by the male to the female is a very frequent behaviour... before more serious things happen...
Kruger National Park, South Africa
Endemic to Madagascar. It's closely similar to the African stonechat in both plumage and behaviour, but distinguished from it by the more extensive black on the throat and minimal orange-red on the upper breast of the males.
Vallombre Natiora Hotel, Mantasoa, Madagascar
This is the typical behaviour of this Eagle Owl - it hides in plain sight and is so easy to miss. It finds the edge of a small quarry pit, and hides in the grass. Sometimes people pass by it within a few feet and not realize its presence. I have seen it dozens of times and by now am able to find it in and around the quarries.
This is a medium sized Owl around 50-55 cms, that frequents rocky areas near green vegetation. Often found on rock edges sitting silently and active at night, the bird is very easy to miss. It primarily hunts rodents, but also eats snakes, lizards, frogs and maybe other agricultural pests.
Thanks so much in advance for your views, faves and feedback.
It's always a bit concerning to see a hedgehog during daylight hours but this little fella looks to be in good health and has spent a few minutes wandering & feeding in my garden for the past two afternoons.
Although hedgehogs shouldn't really be wandering around in the daytime I do wonder if this one came out of hibernation during the warm spell and the sudden drop to freezing conditions has altered his usual nocturnal behaviour.
Hopefully he'll be fine - we've left him some water and a little hedgehog food as a helping hand and I'm pleased to say he has also taken up residence in one of the hedgehog houses in the garden.
Stag frantically digging up mud at the edge of a lake to cover its antlers before dressing them in vegetation. Not sure if this is to impress the ladies or threaten other males in the rut.
I made a quick trip to the nature reserve after work and met this beautiful and friendly girl. After moving to a very photogenic spot on the grass she spent several minutes turning, preening and generally showing off all her best sides for the camera! It was hard to pick a shot in the end :)
A beautiful and colorful bee eater that is quite uncommon / rare in our region, but a resident bird in the forest we visited last week. Its quite a shy bird unlike its cousins and its hard to get at eye level like this. The bird is just like the Green Bee Eater in pretty much every way except for the habitat - this is a forest bee eater. An insectivorous bird, preferring flying insects like Bees, dragonflies, moths and maybe some type of butterflies.
Shot this in a new forest area around 10 hours away from my place. We were exploring the forest and found dozens of Chestnut Headed Bee Eaters - in fact they were more common than the Green Bee Eaters. The birds were perched on thin branches and were diving to catch insects and coming back to the same perch. We spent an hour watching their behaviour and also trying to get some shots like this.
Thanks in advance for your views, faves and feedback - very much appreciated.
A pair of Sarus Crane (Antigone antigone) was searching for food seriously for the caring of their little chick sticking together. It was the learning course for the chick to pick the right food after searching. The beauty of this behavioural shot is that it is a living documentation of parental care and behavioural learning in their natural habitat with an artistic composition. Pics was taken from Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India.