I've seen White-Breasted Nuthatches do the same sort of thing at a platform feeder of mine (throughout the year, not just spring), a very dramatic wingspread that I always took to be a threat display, as it seems to do it when others come near the seed the nuthatch is eating from. I've always wanted to photograph it but of course it happens infrequently and unexpectedly! It's a dazzling display. Would be interested to hear what others think. Melissa
On Mon, May 12, 2014 at 12:24 PM, Karen Edelstein <k...@cornell.edu> wrote: > Yesterday, in the midst of a flurry of activity at the feeder, with visits > from a large flock of goldfinches, several male indigo buntings, > rose-breasted grosbeaks, Baltimore orioles, and several woodpeckers, I > observed a new behavior in a white-breasted nuthatch. The nuthatch was at > the tube feeder, and suddenly spread its wings and rotated its entire body > about 120 degrees like a pendulum. It then swung upright, and did the same > maneuver in the opposite direction, wings widespread. Mating displays of > birds of paradise came to mind immediately. This was the only nuthatch in > the near vicinity. Thoughts on what was going on? > > -- > *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* > Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME> > Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES> > Subscribe, Configuration and > Leave<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > *Archives:* > The Mail > Archive<http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> > Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> > BirdingOnThe.Net <http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html> > *Please submit your observations to eBird > <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>!* > -- > -- Melissa Groo Photography melissagroo.com Follow me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/melissa.groo <http://melissagroo.com> -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
