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Date: | Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:35:06 EDT |
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I have a question regarding 2 Eastern Kingbirds we saw today while doing
some last ditch atlasing for this season. I hope someone can help me interpret
this behavior so I can decide how to code these birds.
There was 1 kingbird sitting high in a dead tree, along with some starlings.
Another kingbird flew to the 1st one, they both flew into the air in a
tumbling melee for several seconds. When they got too close to the ground, they
would separate briefly, just long enough to gain some altitude & go at it
again. This went on for a minute or more. Once during this time, they both
perched in the same tree, close together, but then quickly resumed the
"free-for-all". Eventually, they both perched once more, before flying off, somewhat
together but not really.
Were these birds a mated pair, 2 males fighting over territory, or 2
juveniles just going at it? They didn't really look like juveniles but probably
hard to tell that. I would think it is too late in the season for the other
types of breeding activity. The Stokes Bird Behavior book indicates there is no
breeding after the middle of July. This behavior also looked like the
behavior described in this same book that often takes place when a kingbird is
attacking a raptor or some other larger bird but there were no other birds
involved, unless you count the starlings that were just sitting there, minding
their own business.
Does anybody have any thoughts on this?
Laura Dornan
Stark (& sometimes Coshocton) Counties
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