Eagle Question

Aerial displays broadly take two forms either territorial or courtship, white tailed sea eagle are not the only raptors that do this although I am given to believe in this particular species (talon touching) it takes place only in courtship display (although I may be wrong.)

Common buzzards and peregrine falcons are another species that take part in the more aggressive form (talon locking) although in these species as in Sparrowhawks two birds of the same sex normally take part in an aggressive territorial dispute. In these cases one is normally a juvenile coupled with an adult which can involve spiraling round and round falling almost to the ground before they release talons. Indeed I did read somewhere an adult buzzard and juvenile seen taking part were later found dead talons still locked.

The other aerial / courtship displays (sky dancing) as it is better known is where spectacular displays can be seen as in the case of the hen harrier.

Strictly speaking there is yet a third type of areal display known notably as play which is performed by both red kites and ravens in which the aforementioned are seen swooping down and plucking at plants plus chasing each other, whilst ravens roll and fall in mid-air. Incidentally these actions can be seen outside of the breeding season so whether this forms yet another function such as gaining hunting skills I am not sure, there would seem to be some disagreement amongst the experts over this fact too.


I can only say I have certainly seen young Sparrowhawks having aerial dog fights with each other as well as stooping on corvids which to the observer does look like play, or is it something more serious such as gaining hunting skills, in this particular case both I suspect.

May I just add not all bird behaviour / biology is totally understood though and may remain a mystery for many years to come, but in a strange way I find this sort of comforting, hmm almost mystical in fact.

Alan

Two good shots there Helen, and one excellent one. The second one is great.

I have not seen the behaviour in sea eagles but have seen similar close quarter activity in buzzards. I've seen comparable flying in ravens too - tumbling and twisting in flight by a pair (I know they aren't properly birds of prey but I reckon they'd be willing to help out if the raptors were a bit short handed  ).

You seem to be having a good time on the Outer Hebrides.

Dave

I have to agree about the term sky dancing, incidentally grasping talons is better known as cartwheeling, but somehow is does not seem to have the same ring about it though. So in conclusion cartwheeling by raptors is most certainly an aggressive display, mainly territorial in nature or an example of food piracy - kleptoparasitism.



This aggressive display has also been documented in sea eagles as well as many other species of raptor including the common kestrel and short eared owl, all these particular interactions however are rare occurrences. But I did once see a food piracy incident involving a kestrel and a short eared owl to which extracts from my diary are below.



To actually see their kleptoparasitic behavior in action was very interesting, and I feel very privileged indeed to have seen an example of it happening. So my long days of watching paid off handsomely in the end. Their crafty technique was to sit watching owls quartering the meadow, once an owl had caught a vole the Kestrel would try and take it from the poor bird, flying out in a screaming protest. It would either fight with the owl while it was still on the ground, or harass the Owl causing it to drop the vole while it was flying. The Short eared Owl did not seem to put up that much resistants’ at all and very quickly succumb to the Kestrels demands. I found this rather strange as they do not normally give up this easily and normally succeed in keeping their catch against the much smaller kestrel, but not this morning!



Alan

Hehe - Tringa, eh? I would love to say I was there - must get back to the Outer Hebrides soon. Some great birds; Greenshank and Whooper especially IMO.

Dave

This long report may interest members, although cartwheeling according to some experts may be related to courtship displays, although I cannot see why a bird would want to risk injuring its self or its own partner or even worse, although the rush of hormones during the breeding season may be an explanation. This is the very same hormone rush responsible for the brood patch to appear in females triggered by the increase in daylight that also increases the growth of the ovary in the female and the testes in the male.



I also found the conclusion found at the bottom of this report very interesting in relation to cartwheeling, and the reported sighting of two female Sparrowhawks cartwheeling by Ian Newton, but even here he admits his interpretation may have been unjustified. I do know it is so very easy to be carried away in the moment and apply a false interpretation although sometimes one just cannot help it, especially when it is in related to cuteness which incidentally can be excused of course.





www.researchgate.net/publication/233201148_A_critical_review_of_cartwheeling_flights_of_raptors



Alan