Today I seen the strangest sight that I have not seen before. Ravens are very common and I often see them in groups having alot to say flying around or scavenging for food in the local parks or lakes. But today in my backyard just after the rain had stopped I saw two sitting high up in the tree , one preening the other. Now I have seen parrots and other birds do this but i must say it was a first for me to see Ravens being so personal with each other. I am wondering if the one that was preening might have been the parent bird?
Yep i think the bird preening is the adult. Seen the same behavior a couple of weeks ago and got some pics today.
Australian Raven-1680 by rawshorty, on Flickr">Australian Raven-1680 by rawshorty, on Flickr
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Australian Raven-1666 by rawshorty, on Flickr">[/url] Australian Raven-1666 by rawshorty, on Flickr
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
OMG Shorty how bizzarre, tell me this is not a common thing you always see , for it is the first time for me with Ravens. You and me are definately sharing alot of things in common of late or maybe I just haven't been looking hard enough at birds ! Great pics
Kerry - Perth, Western Australia.
I believe this behaviour is called allopreening. It's part of the courtship ritual but also serves to clean ticks from out-of-reach plumage. Hence allopreening is usually of the head & neck feathers.
Shoop.........i have only seen it twice, the other week and the other day. But i'm keeping my eye on them now
Woko..........I assumed the bird that is getting preened was a young one as the two i watched the other week the preening took place after one regurgitated some food and fed the other one? Also quite a few Ravens here have already fledged.
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
Perhaps allopreening occurs between parents & their young, too.