I recently came across this topic discussing bird behaviors that one would love to witness. I must admit that I’m fascinated by various bird behaviors, such as the captivating displays of Sarus cranes, which include dancing, leaping, and trumpeting.
As a mere observer, rather than an expert or photographer, I’m drawn to observing intriguing bird activities (as well as those of mammals/reptiles) in their natural habitat, undisturbed and unobtrusively, whenever/as much as possible. The aesthetic appeal of these activities is secondary to me; I’m more interested in observing and learning about their natural intriguing behavior (Excluding observations from controlled environments, such as bird banding sessions or nest cameras).
Personally, I’ve been fortunate enough to witness few natural bird activities that have left me astonished. While I managed to capture a very few of these moments with my camera, many others went unrecorded. Given my limited geographical scope, I realize that I’ll never have the opportunity to witness these fascinating (but normal) behaviors/moments in person, as they occur in different parts of the world.
In contrast to the existing original topic, which focused on desired known bird behaviors, I’m eager to observe the intriguing bird behaviors that others have witnessed.
Here’s one I never knew about. I was looking for birds along the creek at a local park one afternoon in April 2023. There was still a fair bit of snow on the ground (Niagara region, Ontario Canada) but courting and nesting activity was in gear.
Suddenly I had a close (swoop over the head) of ‘something’ followed almost immediately by a large grackle. I managed to switch to video mode and just shot and prayed that I might catch something but things happened so quickly, all I managed to catch was a second or so of the pursuit.
The grackle chased this ‘something’ about the branches for about 20 seconds before the mystery prey outmaneuvered the grackle and found safety with a vertical dive.
Grackles are fiercely opportunistic. We had to remove our backyard feeder years ago when we kept finding all these little decapitated sparrow fledglings around the feeder on the ground. My wife actually witnessed one of these – a large grackle must have developed a taste for the brains of these young flyers.
I was just thinking of starting a thread like this myself, and for the same reason.
I have a few that I would like to share.
First, I mentioned the Mockingbird wing flash display. The Mockingbird looks like a rather plain gray bird, more known for its singing repertoire than for colors. I can’t remember when or where I first saw the wing flash display, but it forms a dramatic black and white pattern and reveals that Mockingbirds, too, can be visually striking. This isn’t my video, but it shows the wing flash display beautifully: Mockingbird Wing Flash
When I lived in Washington, I used to see Dippers. This small songbird with a somewhat wren-like appearance is not a bird that you would expect to see foraging underwater, especially in a fast-flowing stream, but it does. I used to see them walking into a stream until they completely submerged.
Finally, I was camping on the Modoc National Forest when I saw Common Nighthawks doing what I call “boom-swoops” (I don’t know the ornithologist’s term for the behavior). The nighthawk will swoop in a parabolic or U-shaped trajectory with its wings held out rigidly. As it reaches the bottom of the swoop, the air rushing across its wings makes a booming noise. If you’ve ever heard an Australian bull-roarer being played, it works on the same mechanism and makes a similar sound.
Ha ha, That’s amusing! However, let’s not attribute all the credit in this respect to our feathered friends only. BTW where are the video links?
Personally, I’ve never observed conflicts between bats and birds in areas where they coexist eg Keoladeo NP, Kulik WLS etc. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that birds don’t attack bats. Thanks for sharing your observation.
If you spend time observing their behavior, particularly during morning and afternoon hours, you might witness such interactions. Please do share your observations if you capture any.
In my area, I don’t have the opportunity to observe Blue/Green Herons, but I’ve noticed various similar activities by Purple Herons, Night Herons, and Grey Herons in the Indian Wetlands.
I’m pleased to see that my thoughts resonate with yours.
Indeed, that’s true for many bird species that may appear ordinary at first glance. However, upon closer observation, they reveal their remarkable characteristics. For instance, the dramatic transformation of a Shoveler from sitting to taking flight, the mesmerizing hovering of Common Kingfishers, and the vibrant displays of Indian Rollers in flight are all common examples found in our country. Thank you for sharing your observations and the video!
I’d like to share two fascinating observations of avian behavior that have piqued my interest.
Asian Openbill: My observations suggest that Openbill parents exhibit exceptional caution when it comes to their chicks’ safety. As illustrated in the accompanying image (L), an Openbill mother meticulously monitors her chick and constructs a barrier using her infertile eggs, dynamically adjusting them in response to the chick’s movements thereby preventing it from falling out of the nest. Notably, however, if the chick falls from the nest, the parents inexplicably refuse to reunite with it, regardless of its proximity or whether someone carefully returns it to the nest.
Greater Adjutant Storks (R): I’ve made a striking observation regarding these birds’ affinity for a specific garbage dumping ground. Despite the regular presence of sanitation workers, the storks appear remarkably nonchalant. In contrast, whenever I attempt to approach them – even disguising myself by dressing like the cleaning staff – they won’t let me get close. I’m astonished by their ability to distinguish me from the other individuals present.
As my father lay in hospital, in what would prove to be his last weeks, I fell into the habit of arriving very early so I could meet the doctor as he made rounds.
One morning as I parked just outside the hospital, iI was the only one so early in the lot, and I heard (but did not see) a mockingbird clearly just in the tree next to the rows of spaces, so I used my phone to record it as it went through what was almost a full symphony of songs, rarely repeating the same call. I was able to make a fairly good recording for the time (2006).
This I played for my father, a lifelong birder, in the ICU, delighting him. His face lit up numerous times and he would say the names of birds being imitated then do his own imitations as best he could in his weakened state, saying, “sometimes they sound like that, other times like ____.” He had me play it several times until he felt he had identified all he could.
We laughed that when he got well he should become a mockingbird reviewer, however it was the last birdsong he would hear.
I have no idea what I did with that recording (or phone), as once my father died, grief consumed. But whenever I hear a mockingbird and wonder at the sheer number of songs mockingbirds use, I am so grateful to have had that moment with my dad.
there’s actually quite a bit of diversity even in how birds poop, but for me the most interesting thing is how the birds seem to convey a similar spectrum of emotions as humans might when pooping – well, except for vultures, who like to poop on their own legs.
I live near Fairbanks, Alaska, and ravens are daily visitors (or maybe they just put up with us as long-term transients) as they like to hang out with our sled dogs. I’ve seen so many behaviors that blow my mind/make me chuckle. Here are a few:
repeatedly pushing snow off a tree branch onto a dog (who was jumping up and barking but also wagging her tail)
poking a dog in the rear-end to make it give up a bone
sliding down a short , snowy hill on their back, head first, then climbing back up and doing it again and again
working in concert to distract a dog while another raven pulls its dish out of reach
barking like a dog
doing barrel rolls while flying
doing stalls and recovery flights on the updrafts by a tall building
pair-bonded (presumably) birds on a branch cuddling, chortling, and kissing
They’re amazing birds. If the asteroid hadn’t struck earth 66 million years ago, they might have developed technology.
May he rest in peace, surrounded ever by the sweet songs of birds that brought him so much joy. His love for nature’s melody is an inspiration to us all. My heartfelt wish is to depart this world as serenely as he did, cradled by the sweet melodies of nature.
Additionally, I’ve made another interesting observation regarding herons:
I’ve made an intriguing observation about Night Herons. As their name suggests, these birds typically hunt at night and early morning, resting during the day. However, they occasionally venture out during the day as well.
Interestingly, when Night Herons coexist with Gharials (and sometimes mugger crocodiles), their behavior undergoes a significant shift. They become entirely diurnal, capitalizing on the opportunity for easy meals. This change is prompted by the Gharials’ unique feeding habit, where they shred fish by violently shaking their snouts. This action often propels fish fragments onto the bank, providing the Night Herons with a convenient food source.
Given this adaptation, it’s tempting to refer to them as ‘Day Herons’ in areas where they coexist with Gharials. This phenomenon highlights the remarkable flexibility of Night Herons in response to their environment and available food sources.
When I was maybe 12 or so, just after I started birdwatching, I saw black-capped chickadees hover outside my bedroom window to drink the water dripping from the icicles hanging from the gutter. I have never seen this behavior since.
At my brother’s graduation in a gymnasium, I watched a European Starling that was stuck in the gym. At first it was just flying around in the rafters, but then it flew down and landed on one of the graduate’s caps! It hopped off and landed on a second cap, before flying away again. I imagine it thought the square caps were a good perch, since I don’t think it would have landed on someone’s bare head…
It’s possible that starlings mistake cap tops for potential nesting sites or temporary perches, which wouldn’t be unusual for social birds. While this is a plausible explanation, it’s unlikely to be the only reason, and other factors may also be at play. Thanks a lot for sharing this observation.
