Yesterday I saw my favourite baby robin that feeds from my feeder laying on its stomach on the ground, with its wings spread... this is really near a window and I feared it had been stunned... but i'd been in the room and heard nothing, and when another bird went nearby it jumped up, absoultely fine!
Today, after what looked like playing under the feeder between two baby robins and one of the parents, the parent and one baby flattened themselves to the ground and spread out their wings.
What are they doing? Are they sunning themselves? Or is it some sort of submissive behaviour (I'm sure I have more than 2 [adult] robins in my garden, they seem to be everywhere!) Maybe they're resting their tummies from all the delicious food they've eaten? Or is something not agreeing with them and they're getting sick?
I'm not sure what other information you might need, but if you ask i might have it somewhere in my brain!
Thanks! :)
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Hi Woodsi
I don't know about robins but my juvenile blackbirds have been doing the same thing.I think they are just resting or sunning themselves as they do it with their beaks open and wings spread out.Maybe the young get more overheated than adults?
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Agree with madpenguin! Sounds like they are sunning themselves!
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The adult (well, it had red plumage) was doing it too... I wondered if maybe it was teaching the little one what to do? I also wondered, after reading the post about playing-dead, whether it was a way of staying unnoticed by predators, sticking low, not moving, earth-coloured....
You're right about the beaks being open, they certainly seem to pant, which suggests cooling?
This was on Springwatch. I just can't remember what the reason was. It wasn't for cooling off I don't think.
If it comes to me I'll post back, or perhaps someone else will remember.
Pipit
Pipit is right, this was featured on Springwatch. If I remember correctly this behaviour could be either sunning or anting - both help to keep plumage healthy. I can't remember all the detail about anting but the bird allows the ants into their feathers to help with parasite control I think.
Eilid x
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