Con, Geoff et al,
I've always thought
the open wing patterning was reminiscent of a Sunbittern
(not that I've ever seen one of them in life!). And my
understanding there, based on David Attenborough DVDs, is
that it is a bluff tactic used when threatened. I think
HANZAB says something about this in respect of Painted
Snipe?
I also wouldn't
discount a possible connection to reproduction/sexual
selection given the role reversal in this species.
Just thoughts.
Harvey
Yes Con -
The pattern is curiously reminiscent of a Barn Owl. g
Geoffrey
The ones I have seen flying were not fast and furious like
Lathams Snipe but rather slower and more laboured. Plus,
unless disturbed, I assume that they prefer to fly at night.
If these two add up then one possibility is that the patterns
are good camouflage for flying in poor visibility.
regards
Con
On 27/10/2011 10:45 AM, Geoffrey Dabb wrote:
Haven’t seen those painted-snipe for a few
days. Maybe gone. Reflecting on the views offered when they
were here, I am struck by the unusual butterfly-like quality
of the wings. In the below, you might thing I have flipped
the images, but they show the extended left wing (L) and right
wing (R). Therefore the elaborate pattern of the left
forewing is completely obscured when the wing is folded (right
and below). Coloured arrows indicate roughly what I take to
be the corresponding parts of the wing, eg the yellow arrow
shows the ‘vermiculated’ parts (are they ‘secondary
coverts’). One wonders what purpose is served by this
pattern - perhaps the enhancing of the bluff display,
perhaps something related to reproduction (although this is a
female). The green arrow shows the rear-looking eye, giving
360 vision - a capacity lost with the kind of wing extension
shown on the right.
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