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What is ‘Rhino Horn’? (1 Viewer)

micronesia

Well-known member
I’ve seen a reference to Rhino Horn in Chiffchaffs in UK. To do with pollen/nectar from more southerly locations.
I have no knowledge of what this is. Can someone please elaborate? I imagine it is some kind of growth?
 
Never heard of it and can find no, online reference but what you suggest, that it's some kind of growth, seems plausible?
 
It was my post that you saw on the Devon Birds site I suspect! I think it is just nectar gumming up the feathers around the base of the bill and it often looks as if they have a small horn just at the base of the bill. Never seen it on a local Chiff and it only seems evident in spring. Take a close look at all the Chiffchaffs you see in the next couple of weeks and see if you can see any.

And yes the photo taken at Margam in the previous post by Andy shows exactly what I'm talking about.


Would pollen do this or does it take a sticky substance like nectar to stick the feathers together?....
 
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Yep, 'pollen horn' is better. It's a mix of dried nectar (basically, sugar) and pollen. A few days after arriving in a more humid climate like Britain, it washes off when they bathe and preen.
 
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