Olive-backed Oriole behaviour

[martin butterfield <>]

While walking the dog at Carwoola this morning we saw 3 Olive-backed Orioles interacting in a small tree.  2 of the birds were fluttering around from branch to branch making the usual oriole call.  The second was more or less in the middle of the other two making a noise somewhat like a Noisy Miner (of which there is an adequate supply in this middle part of our block).  This bird was more stationary but spent much of the time spreading its wings and 'shivering'.  My initial interpretation of the behaviour was two males responding to a display by a female.  

On consulting HANZAB I found under the sub-heading "Sexual behaviour" the following : During construction of nest male seen to display by by lowering and quivering its wings...."  HANZAB also notes that most nest building is by the female so did I observe 2 females competing for the attention of a male?  It does sem clear that it was a display record of some variety!

Martin