Northern Mockingbird wing display
Apr 16, 2023 21:10:10 #
This Northern Mockingbird was scrambling around on a hedge in the parking lot of our local public library.
A search of my favorite bird site says that this wing display behavior is common but somewhat unexplained. Might be a territory thing to warn off other birds. Another said it was to startle up insects as it foraged on the ground.
MockingbirdWingDisplay_14Apr2023 by Marshall Smith, on Flickr
Whatever its purpose it sure was fascinating to watch!
Marshall
A search of my favorite bird site says that this wing display behavior is common but somewhat unexplained. Might be a territory thing to warn off other birds. Another said it was to startle up insects as it foraged on the ground.
MockingbirdWingDisplay_14Apr2023 by Marshall Smith, on FlickrWhatever its purpose it sure was fascinating to watch!
Marshall
Apr 16, 2023 21:52:34 #
Apr 16, 2023 22:14:34 #
Apr 17, 2023 10:43:40 #
Apr 17, 2023 11:51:15 #
Apr 17, 2023 12:34:44 #
Apr 17, 2023 15:16:16 #
Apr 18, 2023 10:29:04 #
Thanks all for looking!
After some YouTube searching I found some videos of this that are more impressive than a still photo. This one reinforces the "flash to startle" theory. At the end the bird's efforts are rewarded with a big caterpillar meal!
https://www.google.com/search?q=mockingbird+wing+display&source=lnms&tbm=vid&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjRor_7zrP-AhWUFlkFHfNsBqoQ0pQJegQIBRAG&biw=1382&bih=766&dpr=2#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:50990d0a,vid:boZz0ECyYEQ
I'm going back to the library again this Friday and if the bird is still around I'll try to get a shot from the front this time, for a better photo.
Marshall
After some YouTube searching I found some videos of this that are more impressive than a still photo. This one reinforces the "flash to startle" theory. At the end the bird's efforts are rewarded with a big caterpillar meal!
https://www.google.com/search?q=mockingbird+wing+display&source=lnms&tbm=vid&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjRor_7zrP-AhWUFlkFHfNsBqoQ0pQJegQIBRAG&biw=1382&bih=766&dpr=2#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:50990d0a,vid:boZz0ECyYEQ
I'm going back to the library again this Friday and if the bird is still around I'll try to get a shot from the front this time, for a better photo.
Marshall
Apr 18, 2023 14:01:31 #
Apr 19, 2023 16:07:19 #
bluezzzzz wrote:
This Northern Mockingbird was scrambling around on... (show quote)
Eye catchingly beautiful
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