I am curious to know (as I don’t) if this relates to a problem of lack of sexual dimorphism. Can it be that a male is approaching a female
for sex and she is not interested and this is the reaction. Or more likely is it that a male is approaching a male for sex thinking it is a female. So both likely thought the other was a likely female. In what John described I think that is what happens because
the initial behaviour is both birds were initiating a sexual contact. If there truly is no outward sign of gender, there is no way to tell, other than by the reaction it gets.
Normally a disinterested bird will simply move away (you see that all the time too) but some may attack in response.
Philip
From: John Layton [
Sent: Friday, 25 May, 2018 11:31 AM
To: Canberra birds
Subject: [canberrabirds] Combative Crested Pigeons
Re Crested Pigeons fighting here’s an excerpt from a post I sent to the chat line in September 2007:
Two Crested Pigeons landed in the bare-branched White Cedar tree. They faced one another cooing, bowing and tail-fanning. Suddenly, one bird flew at the other kicking it once, twice, thrice in the chest. The impacts were palpable, the dominant
rooster appeared to be the Bruce Lee of Crested Pigeons.
The bashed bird left and the victor was soon joined by a female (we suppose) and much lovey-dovey, bill-and-neck rubbing ensued before the pigeon-pair tired of our voyeurism and repaired to a more secluded tryst.
John Layton
Holt.
