The Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum) in the picture is shown crouching on the ground with both wings stretched. Is this part of an elaborate display to distract potential predators from its nest?
Oriental Pratincole are known to perform displays feigning injury, but this does not look like it. Or does it?
Anyone with an explanation? The image was taken at Byrum, Malaysia by BK Lim.
An earlier post is shown HERE.
This post is a cooperative effort between NaturePixels.org and BESG to bring the study of bird behaviour through photography to a wider audience.
Dale
pratincoles in the air are wonderful to see, but this image really captures an intensity that they hold with them.
Happy birding
Dale
http://alpinebirds.blogspot.com
Dave Bakewell
My view is that this bird is performing a distraction display (feigning injury) to attract the photographer’s attention away from a nest or chick.
David
YC
David is correct. Please refer to p 372 of…
Maclean, G. L., 1996. Family Glareolidae (Coursers and Pratincoles). In del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott & J. Sargatal (eds.), Handbook of the birds of the world. Vol. 3. Hoatzin to Auks. Lynx Editions, Barcelona. Pp. 364-383.
glareolidae
[…] Bird Ecology Study Group Oriental Pratincole crouching…The Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum) in the picture is shown crouching on the … Family […]