Hello Gordon,
On my website, picture number 623212D shows Grey-fronted Honeyeaters admonishing one of their own. Curious behaviour because those involved become preoccupied and less aware of their surroundings and so more vulnerable (and obvious!) to predators. I managed to get a dozen or so pictures at the time and at one stage there were more birds on top but this was the best picture – always difficult with several birds to get everyone looking at the camera! It’s hard enough with humans! (attached is one of the less successful pics)
Cheers
Graeme graemechapman.com.au
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Makes them sound almost human.
Carl Clifford
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Hi Gordon,
I think it’s pretty common with noisy miners/yellow-throated miners. I’ve seen them on two occasions be so intent on belting each other up that I could approach and catch one or both of the birds. I’ve seen the same with peaceful (yeah right) doves and a few other species. The most dramatic was also the most hilarious – eight weebills flying up vertically with two of the individuals talon locking (do weebills have talons?), and falling (I estimate about 20 metres) to the ground. Scary stuff. Recently I saw two spangled drongos so keen on killing each other they didn’t notice my approach. They were locked logether on the ground for 15 minutes from when I first saw them. Plenty of blood. The “loser” looked dead when they finally separated but eventually picked itself up and flew off.
I suspect they do this for a variety of territorial reasons, and as others have suggested, in communial-nesting species it might establish pecking order between individuals.
Eric Vanderduys