Outdoor Ontario

Discussion => Behaviour => Topic started by: TomTelford on March 29, 2010, 10:45:01 PM

Title: Shivering RB Nuthatch
Post by: TomTelford on March 29, 2010, 10:45:01 PM

Was out the other day feeding the locals; chickadees, juncos and nuthatches mostly when one little RB nuthatch lands on a branch next to me and then does something I've never seen before.  It stood straight up and began "shivering" its wings making an odd trilling call.  Did this five or six times and then flew off.  

Strange.

Tom.

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Post by: Dr. John on March 30, 2010, 07:14:38 PM

Was it a young bird doing the "feed me!" behaviour?

-John

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Post by: MEGHAN on March 30, 2010, 08:04:23 PM

What about courtship display?
It is THAT time of year

Meg

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Post by: TomTelford on March 30, 2010, 11:25:25 PM

Couldn't tell the age but the sound didn't strike me as "demanding" as a feeding call would be, more cute than anything.  As for courtship, that was my first thought although it was obvious that it was looking at me during the whole performance which would definitely be odd!

What got me was the standing straight up as they usually perch very much head down.  Looked like it was trying to be a penguin...

Tom.