Clowning crows (1 Viewer)

[Les Underhill]

One of the latest papers in the ejournal Ornithological Observations (http://oo.adu.org.za) reports several incidents of a bizarre piece of Pied Crow behaviour --- for example

"We came across what appeared to be a Pied Crow hanging upside down from a telephone wire about 20 m from the roadside. We turned our vehicle around to go back and take a photograph and try to ascertain how the bird had died. However, as we pulled up to the crow, it dropped off the line and flew away."

The pdf of the paper can be downloaded at http://oo.adu.org.za/content.php?id=67

How common is this behaviour? Is it play or display? Anyone with good ideas can also write a short note for the ejournal.

 

[keith]

One of the latest papers in the ejournal Ornithological Observations (http://oo.adu.org.za) reports several incidents of a bizarre piece of Pied Crow behaviour --- for example

"We came across what appeared to be a Pied Crow hanging upside down from a telephone wire about 20 m from the roadside. We turned our vehicle around to go back and take a photograph and try to ascertain how the bird had died. However, as we pulled up to the crow, it dropped off the line and flew away."

The pdf of the paper can be downloaded at http://oo.adu.org.za/content.php?id=67

How common is this behaviour? Is it play or display? Anyone with good ideas can also write a short note for the ejournal.

Back here in the UK I noticed a Carrion Crow hanging upside down from a branch at the top of a tree, I thought it was caught up in some fishing line or something similar, I was wondering how the hell I was going to get up there to release it, then it just let go and flew off!, I haven't a clue what it was doing.

 

[Les Underhill]

Fascinating observation!

 

[Alan Manson]

Hi Les,

Vic Roberts, my wife and and I once saw similar behaviour by a White-necked Raven (one of a group of at least 10) at the Giants Castle Hide (KZN, South Africa). We watched the bird hang from the branch of a tree growing out of the cliff face. I must check with Vic to see if he got any shots (I don't think I got any).

Cheers
Alan

 

[Pluvius]

Here's a hooded Crow doing the same sort of thing
http://www.flickr.com/photos/peregrinebirdphoto/4032515866/

 

[Gretchen]

That's a nice shot - looks like a circus performer!

Here's a hooded Crow doing the same sort of thing
http://www.flickr.com/photos/peregrinebirdphoto/4032515866/

That's 4 different species mentioned so far?

 

[fugl]

What a remarkable piece of behavior I can't say I've ever seen or heard of American Crows performing in this way & I encounter them almost daily year round.

 

[Alan Manson]

Vic Roberts, my wife and and I once saw similar behaviour by a White-necked Raven (one of a group of at least 10) at the Giants Castle Hide (KZN, South Africa). We watched the bird hang from the branch of a tree growing out of the cliff face. I must check with Vic to see if he got any shots (I don't think I got any).

I did get a few poor shots - posted at http://vmus.adu.org.za/vm_view_record.php?vm=BirdPix-1195

 

[Les Underhill]

Thanks, everyone for the fascinating responses!