Buzz
Birds are a common sight, but their existence can be remarkably odd. We must never underestimate them; a closer inspection reveals just how bizarre their lives really are. Some birds even display traits that are among the most astonishing, peculiar, or even human-like in the entire animal kingdom.
10. Bassian Thrush Hunts Using Flatulence
Thrushes, such as robins, are some of the most unremarkable-looking birds. Despite this, they are also among the most widely spread and successful species across the globe. These medium-sized songbirds can be spotted on lawns and in parks around the world, searching for worms with a tilted head (and not by listening, as is often believed). There's a unique species of thrush in Australia that uses flatulence to flush out worms.
The Bassian thrush actually directs a burst of flatulence towards a worm’s hiding spot. This gas seems to irritate the worm and causes it to move, allowing the seemingly ordinary thrush to pinpoint its prey and snatch it up for a quick snack. Repeatedly producing gas to aid in feeding is one of the most bizarre physiological and behavioral adaptations ever documented in birds.
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9. Blue Tits Rob Milk
Blue tits are small European songbirds, similar to chickadees, and are genetically related to crows, magpies, and ravens. Despite their small size, these sociable birds are incredibly intelligent and adaptive, displaying complex behaviors and interactions with their surroundings. In some UK towns, blue tits have developed a unique feeding strategy at the expense of humans. They follow milk delivery people, puncture the foil tops of bottles with their beaks, and extract small amounts of milk from nearly full bottles.
Although the milk they take is minimal, it can still lead to significant contamination. European robins, another garden songbird, have also been observed taking milk from bottles after they’ve been pecked open. However, robins are much less effective at this than blue tits. Unfortunately, blue tits aren’t well-suited to digesting milk, and there have been instances where some have even fallen into the bottles and drowned.
8. The Majestic Vulture
The lammergeyer, also known as the bearded vulture, is one of the most striking and awe-inspiring birds of prey. It often feeds on the marrow of shattered bones that are dropped from great heights. However, it is not the bird's diet but its habit of dyeing its feathers for aesthetic reasons that makes it so remarkable. According to research on lammergeyers, these birds begin dyeing their feathers with natural substances at around seven years of age.
By covering their naturally pale breast feathers and facial areas with iron-rich mud and mineralized clay, vultures create vibrant “highlights” in their plumage, much like humans use hair products. Vultures that feed on carcasses lack the rich carotenoid pigments found in many plant-eating birds. Red pigments are a signal of dominance in the bird world, and it is believed that lammergeyers use this self-coloring method to assert their social rank and status.
7. Common Poorwill—The Hibernating Bird
When we think of hibernation, we typically picture bears or perhaps a frog submerged in a pond. Birds tend to migrate south or remain in colder areas, surviving by finding more creative food sources. However, some birds—like swifts and hummingbirds—appear to have the ability to slow their metabolism during cold nights. One species of nightjar, related to the whip-poor-will and the “goatsuckers,” takes this ability even further.
The common poorwill, native to the American West, hunts for insects in arid landscapes. Uniquely, this bird species enters a full hibernation when the desert landscape becomes cold and devoid of insects in winter. The poorwills nestle into rock crevices to wait out the winter, much like a bear, waking up in the spring to resume their nocturnal foraging. No other bird undergoes full hibernation—closely related nighthawks simply migrate south.
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6. Canyon Wren—The Patio Architect
Wrens are among the most charming and beloved garden birds. Although they are mostly found in North and South America, the approximately 80 species of wrens have managed to adapt to a wide range of contrasting environments, despite their similar appearance. The rusty-backed, slender canyon wren, native to western North America, thrives in dry, rocky slopes dotted with pebbles and crevices. In an intriguing example of avian construction, these peculiar birds rearrange small stones to create a pathway or patio in front of their nesting sites.
Typically built by the females, these “patios” can consist of up to 300 stones. Despite extensive studies and attention from naturalists, the purpose and function of these curious stone pathways remain unclear. Researchers from the University of Colorado are conducting a study to potentially reveal the purpose of these unique nest features. Cameras placed near nest sites may offer insights into how the paths are used.
5. The Use of Disinfecting Plants in Bird Nests
Blue tits are not only infamous for sipping milk from bottles with broken lids. These petite songbirds appear to engage in herbal practices and even a form of aromatherapy, as humorously suggested by ornithologists studying their behavior. Various bird species, including starlings and blue tits, add aromatic plant fragments to their nests. However, blue tits stand out for using several plant varieties that help minimize harmful bacteria. Blowfly infestations, a serious issue for their nests, can lead to chick mortality. Research has shown that placing plant matter in the nests helps lower bacterial contamination among their young.
In a study published by researchers, it was discovered that “aromatic plants like lavender (Lavandula stoechas), apple mint (Mentha suaveolens), curry plant (Helichrysum italicum) and Achillea ligustica significantly alter the bacterial communities found on blue tit nestlings.” The plants were also shown to have a beneficial impact on the red blood cell count in the birds.
4. Seabird and Duck Piracy
Many birds possess extraordinary foraging skills. The survival of numerous bird species, especially in harsh environments, would be questionable if not for their exceptional methods of acquiring food. Several bird species, particularly those that live near water, are notorious for repeatedly stealing food from other birds. These kleptoparasites fall into two categories: specialists, who rely on theft and intimidation as their main food-gathering strategy, and occasional or opportunistic kleptoparasites, who steal food more casually from time to time.
Jaegers, skuas, and frigatebirds are fiercely aggressive seabirds known for constantly harassing other seabirds until the latter regurgitate their recent meal. These birds then swoop in, snatching the food midair before flying off. In a somewhat unusual variation, American wigeons—although capable of foraging on their own—are known to approach canvasbacks or coots diving for wild celery and steal their meal. The reason? While American wigeons can’t dive as effectively as their prey, they’re eager to enjoy the rewards of a diving bird's lifestyle without the effort.
3. Osprey's Fish Carrying Strategies
The osprey is a remarkable bird of prey that can be found near water across every continent except Antarctica. Unlike many other birds of prey, this species belongs to its own genus and has no close relatives. Much like the fish eagle, the osprey dips into the water to seize sizable fish with its specialized, extra-long, “grip-enhanced” talons before flying off to a perch. Observers are often impressed by the precise alignment of the fish in the osprey’s grasp: the bird flies in a manner that resembles an airplane carrying a bomb or fuel tank.
In fact, ospreys typically carry fish parallel to their bodies to enhance aerodynamics and improve flight control, despite the burden of the heavy, cumbersome catch. Uniquely, the osprey has a reversible outer toe, allowing it to grip prey with two toes pointing forward and two pointing backward. This adaptation makes carrying the prey in a streamlined manner much easier.
2. The Delicate Balance Between Alligators And Herons
In the subtropical wetlands, herons and alligators might seem indifferent to one another in their ecological roles. If considered as potential rivals, herons would appear vulnerable to predation by alligators. However, the relationship between wading birds and alligators in the Florida Everglades is far more intricate and unexpectedly beneficial.
Wetland vegetation flourishes rapidly in the productive waters of wetlands. When alligators forage, they create open water pools by crushing the plants, making it easier for fish to be caught in these pools, which aids herons in their feeding efforts. Furthermore, alligators provide protection for heron eggs from rats and mammals that would otherwise eat them. Although alligators occasionally prey on young herons that fall from their nests, their presence likely offers enough advantages to outweigh the risks for the herons.
1. Swainson’s Thrush And Its Unique Mating Ritual
For my graduate research at Royal Roads University in British Columbia, I chose the Swainson’s thrush due to its potential as an indicator of how birds respond to changes in habitat. This seemingly plain yet stunning bird has an intriguing aspect to its reproductive behavior. Male Swainson’s thrushes engage in an unusual strategy when it comes to mating.
Upon arriving in North America from their South American wintering grounds, male thrushes establish territories within mixed forests and fiercely defend them against female birds. After playing hard to get, and with their territory boundaries crossed by females, the males relent and allow the females into their domains. These thrushes are relatively loyal, often pairing with the same mates year after year, which is believed to help ensure greater nesting success during the brief breeding season.
