Re: [Birding-Aus] Re Starlings hawking

["Philip Veerman" <>]

Hi Andrew,

 

Yes but I'd suggest the odd thing is not particularly the "hawking insects" but that they take on very much the flight shape and style of woodswallows for a few seconds. It probably has little or nothing to do with woodswallows (which otherwise fly quite differently), so it is not likely to be behavioural mimicry, more like a coincidence. Hard to describe how, but they just don't move like starlings usually do, when indulging this behaviour. It is easy to think for a moment, such birds seen not close up, are woodswallows.

 

Philip