birding-aus

Re: Riflebird feather sound

To:
Subject: Re: Riflebird feather sound
From: "Dean Portelli" <>
Date: Wed, 03 Dec 2003 15:18:40 +1100
Martin & other Birding-ausers,

I have also heard the sound Martin described for adult male Victoria's Riflebirds with Paradise Riflebird in South-east QLD, and I presume that male Magnificent Riflebirds also make the sound.

I don't know exactly what produces the sound but as it is only produced when the bird moves the wings (when it flies, or possibly in display - I haven't seen a displaying bird so have no personal experience as to whether this is the case) it has something to do with the movement of the feathers, either against the air or against each other.

It would be beneficial to know if the same sound, or similar, is produced when the bird moves its wings during display (i.e. when the feathers are sliding over one another and not so much against the air as in flight).

Clearly, as the sound is only produced by adult males there must be something different about the structure of the remiges (overall shape, microstructure etc) of adult males compared to females and subadult males.

Like Martin I too would be interested if anyone can provide a definitive explanation.

Cheers, Dean

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