Hi everyone, I have recently got more Dunnocks feeding in my garden, and today saw one puffing himself up, not like they do to keep warm like a little ball, but puffing his chest out and expanding sideways he looked three sizes bigger with the chest of a glamour model and strutting like wood pigeon around the garden amongst the other dunnocks. Is this behaviour because he may be one of my original Dunnocks and he's being threatening telling them all this is my patch, or is he being defensive saying don't hurt me I'm gigantic you wouldn't want to pick a fight with me, or is he doing it to attract the ladies.
There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed.
Hi BBB,
I think he may be flirting. Dunnocks have a peculiar courtship ritual that involves spreading their wings and hopping furiously across the garden towards a potential mate. They aren't monogamous in that often one female has 2 husbands, and frequently the chicks from one brood will have different fathers. It is common for both the males to help the female look after the chicks. Apparently, this is rare amongst birds, who are mostly monogamous.
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Hi Sparrow, Two husbands, those poor Dunnocks lol, mind you that must make life alot easier with all those mouths to feed when the chicks arrive.
Thanks for that.
Susan H said: Hi BBB, I think he may be flirting. Dunnocks have a peculiar courtship ritual that involves spreading their wings and hopping furiously across the garden towards a potential mate. They aren't monogamous in that often one female has 2 husbands, and frequently the chicks from one brood will have different fathers. It is common for both the males to help the female look after the chicks. Apparently, this is rare amongst birds, who are mostly monogamous.
Pleased I am not a Dunnock - One husband is enough for anyone !!
Of all creatures, man is the most detestable, he is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain. ~ Mark Twain
Thanks ever so much for that Sparrow, it is comical to watch.
Hi BBB
I do hope the potential Mrs Dunnock doesn't think that!!!!! LOL
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
Hi Squirrel, you never know, they might be in competition to see who can make her laugh the most, we all love a man that can make us laugh.
I have been watching one of my dunnocks this morning, and I see what you mean about the size of it when puffed out. He was puffed out sideways and forwards, and did look huge. In fact, when I fist caught sight of him flitting across the patio and on to a flower tub I thought he was a female blackbird. I think Gigantic is the right word!
Hi Sparrow, don't laugh, but I really thought he must be ill when I first saw him, I wondered if there was some sort of disease they got, that filled them with gas, I swear his legs went out sideways too and he was waddling about in a strange rolling gate, the first time I saw him like this, he flew off before he went down again, so I didn't know he had shrunk again, but I saw him later in the day puffing up and going back down again, thank goodnes, I would have made a right banana of myself again. lol.