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Interesting feeding technique!
Andy Holt

Interesting feeding technique!

This shot was taken at a local feeding station where I'd noticed that one of the Long Tailed Tits present had adopted an unusual feeding technique.

The bird would zip down to the food area, grab a piece of peanut and then fly up into the cover of a hawthorn tree, where it would hang by one leg whilst eating the peanut held in the claws of the other.

I'd be interested to know if anyone else has seen this type of behaviour?

My thoughts are that the bird is eating in cover as the site is well known to local Sparrowhawks, so by dashing down and grabbing a bit of food and then taking it to eat in amongst the hawthorn twigs it's exhibiting a high level of inteligence for a tiny little fluff ball!
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Location
Cannock Chase, Staffs, UK
Date taken
28th Feb 2004
Equipment used
Swaro80D CP990
A
I've been watching the LTTs in my garden for quite some time, and never seen anything like this. They seem to be quite content to hang around the peanuts and suet feeder for quite long periods of time. Your thoughts on the explanation certainly seem to make sense .... making a nonsense of the expression bird brain !!
 
C
This bird is not candidate for the president of the species, isnt it? ;) Very interesting and good shot.
 

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Britain & Europe
Added by
Andy Holt
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