I agree that
A lot of birds seem to like to stand on one leg, including hawks. I recall from my time keeping finches, many years ago, that they almost always sleep on one leg, indeed
if they are sleeping perched on two feet, they will be dead in the morning. Was right almost every time. Sleeping perched on two feet was a sure sign that they were sick or injured.
Philip
From: Con Boekel [
Sent: Sunday, 21 January, 2018 5:37 PM
To:
Subject: Re: FW: [canberrabirds] More Brown Goshawk @ mulligans (film)
I have seen Pied Currawongs, suffering from the leg lice deformed swellings, tuck one foot up into their feathers. I have only seen lice-infested birds do it - and then only two or three times in the last 30 years. I assumed at the time that they did it
for comfort.
regards
Con
On 1/21/2018 5:29 PM, Geoffrey Dabb wrote:
Yes, it’s fairly common in owls and raptors, and also a pose favoured by artists. I’ve flicked through a collection of raptor paintings by Joseph Wolf and
in 17 of 60 a bird has a foot raised. In many other than the 17 both feet are not visible or the bird is in action. Unlike gulls, waders etc that typically sleep/rest with a foot raised, accipiters sufficiently balanced to raise a foot are sometimes alert
or agitated.
From: Duncan McCaskill
Sent: Sunday, 21 January 2018 5:02 PM
To: David Rees
Cc:
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] More Brown Goshawk @ mulligans (film)
A lot of birds seem to like to stand on one leg, including hawks.
Three of these are Collared Sparrowhawks, the one in bottom right corner is a Brown Goshawk. I think standing on one leg is something they like to do when resting in one spot.
On 21 January 2018 at 13:01, David Rees <> wrote:
Here we see two female 'teenagers' hanging about. One is trying to perch with one foot (something I cannot say I've seen a hawk do before) high up in a tree on a windy day- as it tries to maintain its raptor 'dignity' - with difficulty.....,
its sibling has a better idea.
Fimed 20+ metres up in a big tree in Mulligans a few days ago.
