Yesterday I saw a small flock of Crested Pigeons (about 6 birds from memory) in an open grassed area. One pigeon was lying on its side on the ground, flicking one wing upwards, so that the undersurface of the wing was exposed for about seconds with each flick. The other Crested Pigeons did not seem to react, continuing to forage around the displaying bird. I thought at first that the bird lying on its side was dead or injured and that the wind was catching the wing and blowing it upward. But as I approached the flock on foot all the birds, including the “wing flicker” flew to a nearby tree.
So I then thought I had observed some form of courtship display, but there is no mention of this behavior in HANZAB. Has anyone else observed this behavior in Crested Pigeons? I’m also interested to hear other peoples’ views on the purpose of the display.
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Thank you to everyone who replied to my query about the purpose of the raised wing in the Crested Pigeon, most of whom replied privately, rather than on Birding-aus.
My apologies for the delay in thanking everyone, but I wanted to consult Frith’s book on Pigeons and Doves of Australia before I responded. The Crested Pigeon posture that I observed does indeed match the sun-bathing posture illustrated on p. 241 of Frith’s book, as pointed out by Graeme Chapman and Philip Veerman.
The Crested Pigeon that I observed last Saturday was probably raising and lowering the wing to warm up, because the raised wing was definitely orientated towards the sun. But as mentioned previously by me and others, this same display could well be used on hot days to cool down, also when bathing in the rain or under a sprinkler, and perhaps as a means of warding off other birds.
Stephen Ambrose Ryde, NSW
I agree with Bill, that wing raising has more functions than has been advanced so far. Both Crested Pigeons and Spotted Doves do it in my garden when squabbling over sunflower seed suspended in a hanging basket for Lorikeets. Spotted Doves are ejected by the others on approach but use their wings to deter or fight with their own kind. HANZAB says the purpose of wing raising in that species is unknown. Crested Pigeons using this tactic can eject Spotted Doves and keep Lorikeets at bay for a short while but soon concede. HANZAB says Crested Pigeons use their wings for fighting and my observations support that. So I think the bird has the wing raised ready to strike.
Mike Carter 30 Canadian Bay Road Mount Eliza VIC 3930 Tel (03) 9787 7136
I think the answer is ‘all of the above and more’.
It’s a regular habit among Crested Pigeons, Bar-shouldered Doves, Peaceful Doves, and Spotted Doves in my garden, and I’m sure many other species. Lewin Honeyeaters come to mind – but mostly pigeons and doves.
They often do it in the rain. And in the heat of a 40 degree plus summer’s day I’ve seen a gang of Peaceful Doves lying in the shade, each with one wing raised, like a troupe of dancers holding a matching pose.
I guess it’s a bit like spotting someone in the distance standing under a tree with one arm aloft – there can be any number of reasons why he’s doing it, and it isn’t really unusually, but we can’t help wondering what he’s actually up to.
Bill Jolly
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Not Crested Pigeons but my chickens do it a lot in the sun. First time I saw it I thought they were dead too! I’m not definite about it but I think I read somewhere it was also a form of parasite control.
Karen
Last summer I had a dove just lying in the birdbath with one wing in the air.The sparrows were squeezing in around it where ever they could fit.It looked like a bowl of Turtledove soup with Sparrow garnish.
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Pigeons and doves certainly do seem to sunbake as mentioned in this thread, also they use this technique to cool down or bath in sprinklers in NT.
Rod Warnock Newcastle
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I’ve also seen Spotted Doves lying about on the lawn with one wing held up.This sunbathing technique is probably common among pigeon and dove species.
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Thanks Philip. That makes sense – the undersurface of the raised wing was angled towards the sun. I just thought it was interesting that only one bird in the flock was engaged in the behaviour at the time. Perhaps they also engage in this behaviour while bathing in the rain, as observed by Carl.
It could also potentially be used for evaporative cooling on a very hot day, i.e. loss of heat from blood vessels close to the surface of the skin on the undersurface of the wing (thermal window).
Stephen Ambrose Ryde NSW
Hi Stephen,
I recently saw a similar sized group of CPs with 2 members of the group doing similar lying on-side, briefly flicking up a wing while the rest of the group went about its business. It was sprinkling rain at the time and I thought the birds were just engaging in some kind of bathing activity. Your having seen CPs doing the same when it was dry, now makes me think perhaps otherwise. Interesting behaviour, will have to keep an eye open for CPs doing similar and have a closer look. Hopefully I will have my DSLR with me and will be able to take a movie of it and study what they are doing more closely.
Cheers,
Carl Clifford
Yesterday I saw a small flock of Crested Pigeons (about 6 birds from memory) in an open grassed area. One pigeon was lying on its side on the ground, flicking one wing upwards, so that the undersurface of the wing was exposed for about seconds with each flick. The other Crested Pigeons did not seem to react, continuing to forage around the displaying bird. I thought at first that the bird lying on its side was dead or injured and that the wind was catching the wing and blowing it upward. But as I approached the flock on foot all the birds, including the “wing flicker” flew to a nearby tree.
So I then thought I had observed some form of courtship display, but there is no mention of this behavior in HANZAB. Has anyone else observed this behavior in Crested Pigeons? I’m also interested to hear other peoples’ views on the purpose of the display.
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