A form of courtship?

["Philip Veerman" <>]

Hello Margaret,

 

There is a significant difference in the colours of these two birds in how brown the breast is and maybe the blue in the throat. I was not aware of any gender difference. None of the field guides nor HANZAB mention these things as gender difference. Probably an individual variation (which HANZAB mentions) but for the record, from your photo, please tell us - if you know- which was male, which was female? 

 

Philip

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Margaret Leggoe [
Sent: Sunday, 11 September 2011 5:40 PM
To: 'Robin Eckermann';
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] A form of courtship?

I think it probably is a form of courtship, Robin.  I shot these dollar birds exchanging a gift (given by the male to the female) just moments before they copulated in December last year.

Margaret. 

Sorry about the big file.

 

 

From: Robin Eckermann [
Sent: Sunday, 11 September 2011 5:18 PM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] A form of courtship?

 

The Kookaburra at the front is giving this freshly caught mouse to the (larger) bird at the back - my guess a partner rather than an offspring? Is this a form of courtship behaviour? Not something my wife would particularly warm to, but each to their own.

 

Lower SE slopes of Mt. Ainslie today (Sunday 11th September). There was a distracting branch in the lower RHS foreground - have tried to alleviate the distraction with a bit of vignetting.

Regards ... Robin Eckermann