canberrabirds

A query about White-winged Choughs and soil

To: 'Robin Hide' <>, 'Canberra Birds' <>
Subject: A query about White-winged Choughs and soil
From: Philip Veerman <>
Date: Sun, 17 Jul 2016 13:14:02 +0000

Has been observed in the species before. It is one of the several variants of a range of birds putting odd things on their feathers.

 

From: Robin Hide [
Sent: Sunday, 17 July, 2016 5:53 PM
To: Canberra Birds
Subject: [canberrabirds] A query about White-winged Choughs and soil

 

Do Ww Choughs use clay/soil for other purposes than making nests?

This afternoon amongst pines between the RC Golf Course and Warrina Inlet there was a large flock of Choughs, some of which appeared to be pecking at soil at the foot of a pine.

They would then fluff up their feathers and appeared to be applying soil to them.

The soil where they had been pecking.

I saw similar behaviour late one evening (full  dusk) beside pine trees in urban Challis Street in Dickson about 6-8 weeks ago- though there they just appeared to be pecking at the ground.

Puzzled!

Robin Hide

 

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