Yesterday while birding at the Royal National Park with Adrian O’Neill,
we noticed that the Whipbirds were unusually active, and less cryptic
than usual. That behaviour allows observation of them foraging on the
ground, turning litter over, searching for insects. What I found
unexpected is that their tail was spread out. This observation was
made on several different individuals.
I began to wonder what is the specific purpose of spreading of the tail
feathers. While it would seem highly probable that this behaviour is
somehow associated with flushing insects.
Still how does it operate? The birds were feeding in complete shade,
so the spreading out of tail feathers into a fan was not shading the
area around them.
Other birds, like fan-tails, also spread their tails, but while
foraging in foliage.
Does anyone have any information about this behaviour and its purpose?
Jack Shapiro
==============================www.birding-aus.org
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