Amazing hopping seedeater, Venezuela (1 Viewer)

[iainp]

This was in Venezuela last August. It's a seedeater of some kind but not sure which one. It was jumping like this at sunrise and when I came back 2 hours later it was still at it! The video shows both occasions, and I've slowed it right down to individual frames at the end. The second half is clearer because the sun was up by this time. Is this just part of its calling pattern, or a mating call?

Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Sxrx-EneEk

And here's a still from the video:

 

[Gretchen]

Very interesting video! I might have suspected fly-catching of a bird doing that, but it doesn't seem to be the case here. Hope someone else can mention if they have seen or read about this.

 

[James Lowther]

think it's blue-black grassquit display flight

another example here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSEFjy9Bk68

cheers,
James

 

[iainp]

Thanks again James! Yes, that's it.

 

[Peter C.]

think it's blue-black grassquit display flight

cheers,
James

I've watched them doing that, in Costa Rica ... it's really quite bizarre.

Peter