Very interesting video of this specially adapted tail feather fluttering in
the wind (artificially created by a hair-dryer).
When I was in Calgary in Alberta, Canada with locals Eric Tull and Brooke
Clibbon a couple of years ago we were watching a Wilson's Snipe (formerly
considered to be a sub-species of Common Snipe) "winnowing" over wet
grasslands in spring. I was able to watch it quite closely for some time
performing these display flights, climbing and then diving at speed while
producing a ululating mechanical sound which varied in pitch in synchrony
with the wing-beats. I have not found any reference to this observation of
the pitch variation apparently being produced by the change in air-flow over
the (specially adapted - as I now know from the video) tail feathers as the
wings beat. Does any reader have any further information (observations or
references) on this fascinating feature of the winnowing (or drumming?)
behavior of these birds? Richard Nowotny
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Laurie Knight
Sent: Friday, 30 April 2010 9:28 PM
To: Birding Aus
Subject: Male Snipe use aeroelastic fluttering to attract
mates
see www.news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science_and_environment/10088290.stm
[there is an interesting video showing the tail feather in question flapping
like a flag].
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