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I didnt know where to put this. Its not the best photo, but interesting behaviour. This Brown cuckoo-dove had its tail all flared out, and I was wondering what that was all about.
I havent seen it before and wondered if anyone knew what this behaviour signifies, if anything.. :)
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location: Melaleuca Camp, Limeburners Creek, NR, near Crescent Head, nsw.
Amazing image, Steve.
Hope someone can explain that behaviour.
I have no idea.
Cheers
Denis
Denis Wilson
www.peonyden.blogspot.com
Pilates....?! :'D
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Interesting shot, steve. I reckon he's feeling threatened and fanning the tail (also slightly raising his wings )to appear larger. "Don't mess with me, buddy", is what he's saying.
Cheers,
George
Melbourne, VIC
They don't always sit where it suits us and it's a great capture regardless of its behavior, steve,.
Regards, "Tark" - Olympus 4/3rds colour
They don't always sit where it suits us and it's a great capture regardless of its behavior, steve,.
Regards, "Tark" - Olympus 4/3rds colour
Thanks guys.
George, you may be onto something there.
I had a thought that it may have been part of a mating display. but have no real knowledge about that.
,
cheers,
steve
Hi folks, maybe 'sunning'
Ed Townsville NQ
thanks ed.
Sunning Birds in various climates and all around the world indulge in sunning. This can be anything from simply standing with their backs to the sun with their feathers rustled up to expose the skin below, to a full sunbathing posture with wings and tail feathers spread out to maximize the area open to the sun. Some birds such as pigeons will be on one side and raise a wing to the sun. Whatever the exact action, like 'smoke bathing' the causes, or benefits to the bird are a matter of supposition. Obviously, in many cases the birds get warmth from the sun which reduces the amount of metabolic energy they have to expend in order to maintain a constant body temperature of around 40 degrees C. However, some birds sunbathe in temperatures which are quite hot, in such circumstances sunbathing appears to leave them over-heated as they can be seen panting. Therefore, some scientists have theorized that the sun's warmth is important in helping dislodge feather parasites, or that the ultra-violet in sunlight helps turn some precursor molecule in the preening oil into vitamin D and that the bird's need this vitamin. It is known that these precursor molecules exist in preening oil and that ultra-violet light will stimulate the conversion into vitamin D. What is not known is how well this happens on the bird's body and how important the amount of vitamin D created would be to the bird.I did not think about that. Thats a very good theory.
I just did some research and found this..
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,
I think I have read somewhere that sunning may have something to do with melanin[sic] production in the feathers. but not sure.
,
cheers,
steve
doh! code tag makes it go across the page.
,
"
Sunning
Birds in various climates and all around the world indulge in sunning. This can be anything from simply standing with their backs to the sun with their feathers rustled up to expose the skin below, to a full sunbathing posture with wings and tail feathers spread out to maximize the area open to the sun. Some birds such as pigeons will be on one side and raise a wing to the sun. Whatever the exact action, like 'smoke bathing' the causes, or benefits to the bird are a matter of supposition. Obviously, in many cases the birds get warmth from the sun which reduces the amount of metabolic energy they have to expend in order to maintain a constant body temperature of around 40 degrees C.
,
However, some birds sunbathe in temperatures which are quite hot, in such circumstances sunbathing appears to leave them over-heated as they can be seen panting. Therefore, some scientists have theorized that the sun's warmth is important in helping dislodge feather parasites, or that the ultra-violet in sunlight helps turn some precursor molecule in the preening oil into vitamin D and that the bird's need this vitamin. It is known that these precursor molecules exist in preening oil and that ultra-violet light will stimulate the conversion into vitamin D. What is not known is how well this happens on the bird's body and how important the amount of vitamin D created would be to the bird.
"
Not quite as spread as the BCD but here is a shot of a Rose-crowned Fruit Dove sunning, taken back in July.
Ed Townsville NQ
Hi Steve
The RCFD had just put its wing down!!!...just missed it as I tried to adjust settings from 'in deep cover' (trying to get shots of a Rufous Fantail) to 'get a shot thru the dense cover into the sunny shot' the RCFD was sitting in.I often see Coucals sitting exposed in the early morning sun warming up ? but the RCFD was maybe de-louseing (if thats a word) or getting a good shot of 'D'.
Ed Townsville NQ
HI Steve
I would gess sunning to
Nice shot Steve,I will go with sunning.
I think you are all trying to make it more complicated than it realy is. The bird is obviously constipated.
Ray
Maybe it is a rainforest bird thing? - Seriously!
Ed referred to it as an apparently well-known phenomenon. "sunning".
Steve then posted an article explaining the phenomenon.
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Rainforest plants have far greater chlorophyll percentages (than most inland species). This means their ability to utilize sunlight is far greater than most other inland plants. Actually, most dry country plants have adapted to produce "sunscreens" to minimise heat uptake and hence transpiration. This accounts for the typical grey-green appearance of most inland plants.
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But the birds shown here doing this sunning are both rainforest species.
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Maybe the birds need to gain extra sunlight for the chemical reactions mentioned in that interesting article posted by Steve.
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Cheers
Denis
Denis Wilson
www.peonyden.blogspot.com
Been looking for this shot of a Coucal sunning, must sort my files one day!!
Ed Townsville NQ
Hey Ed, this poor bird is not sunning, he's recovering, he's just been run over by a bus. Ray
Interesting discussion - thanks for sharing.
OMG Ray.... you took the words right out of my mouth :'D
But have you not noticed that this thread is totally devoid of humour?
at any rate by the look of this bird I certainly hope that it worked whatever he was doing, as he looks in need of something that's for sure!
Cheers
Birdie
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Ed's bird- "geezzze...man that was SOME party... now who the hell took my feathers and why do I smell sooo bad?"
Steve's bird " Great party, look at these tail feathers I picked from some drunk dude"
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best
Ed's bird..."Geeze that was SOME partaaay, but who the hell stole my feathers while I was asleep and why do I smell soooo bad?"
Steve's bird "great party, look at these tail feathers I got from some dude completely out of his tree"
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best
oops didn't mean to post twice... twas over the page and I didn't see it!
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best