In part, the flight style of Galahs is learned ... for example, when
cross-fostered by Major Mitchell Cockatoos young galahs will adopt
the flight style of its parents when flying in flocks of Major Mitchell
but will otherwise fly like galahs. For more information see Rowley and
Chapman 1986. Behaviour 96:1-16
It is possible that other species of cockatoo (and other parrots) also
learn aspects of their flight styles ... as they are capable of mimicking
sound and some visual displays.
Cheers, Jim
Dr. Wm. James Davis, Editor
Interpretive Birding Bulletin
On Thu, 29 Apr 1999, Brian Fleming wrote:
> Martin O'Brien wrote:
> >
> > A question for the list.
> >
> > My father was inquiring about why different cockatoo species fly the
> > way
> > they do. Sulphur-crested Cockatoos have the seemingly unco-ordinated
> > double flapping (with no apprent pattern) while Yellow-tailed Black
> > Cockatoos have a very "lazy" gentle flight pattern.
> >
> > I'm interested in people's thoughts on the matter. Do the different
> > patterns confer an "advantage" or are they related to movement and
> > habitat
> > or flock structure. Is there any explanation at all??
> >
> > Over to you.
> >
> > p.s. I haven't checked HANZAB at this stage as I am interested in
> > personal
> > views.
> >
> > Martin O'Brien
> > Executive Scientific Officer
> > Scientific Advisory Committee
> > Threatened Species Program
> > Department of Natural Resources and Environment
> > 4/250 Victoria Pde.,
> > East Melbourne, 3002
> > Victoria, AUSTRALIA
> >
> > tel: +61 3 9412 4567
> > fax: +61 3 9412 4586
> > e-mail:
> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> >
> > To unsubscribe from this list, please send a message to
> >
> > Include ONLY "unsubscribe birding-aus" in the message body (without
> > the
> > quotes)
> I can't give an answer to these differences, but after all Yellow-tailed
> Blacks are very big Cockatoos, and I believe them to be very competent
> long distance fliers.
> I am always struck by the way Galahs fly - a very competent easy flight,
> very like a gull's, which seems suited to long-distance travel.
> I have noticed that the flight of both Corellas is different to the
> Sulphur-Crested's, but I can't say from memory what the difference
> actually is!
> I rather think that Sulphur-Cresteds 'double-flap' untidily when they
> are going round and round after disturbance, or when they're thinking of
> landing. I think they fly much more steadily when actually going from A
> to B. But I could be wrong, I quite often am. But it is exactly the
> sort of question which should be asked.
> Anthea Fleming in Melbourne
> To unsubscribe from this list, please send a message to
>
> Include ONLY "unsubscribe birding-aus" in the message body (without the
> quotes)
>
To unsubscribe from this list, please send a message to
Include ONLY "unsubscribe birding-aus" in the message body (without the
quotes)
|
