Threat display

Red-breasted merganser are migrating through our area.
I have been watching their mating behaviour.


As far as I can tell this display is to impress the females and drive off the other males.
Belly low in the water, tail high mouth gaping open. They were too far off to hear any sound.
The one on the right seems to be impressed by the other male's display.

The bird in the foreground is a horned grebe.

Mergus serrator

The Red-breasted Merganser breeds farther north and winters farther south than the other American mergansers.
source- Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Golden-crowned kinglet.

Image
Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, Oct 22, 2021. Flitting though the hedge, dashing to the water and gone again. Elapsed time 3 seconds or less. Regulus satrapa Though barely larger than a hummingbird, this frenetically active bird can survive –40 degree nights, sometimes huddling together for warmth. source- Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Read more

My Cat is Stranger Than Your Cat

Image
Okay this is weird; I’ll give you that right up front. We got Maggie from an animal shelter so we don’t know her background. We have found out that, if you don’t latch the bathroom door securely, Maggie will come crashing in to visit. She promptly climbs into your pants and makes herself comfortable. Now I don’t normally take a camera into the bathroom, however, this is regular thing with Maggie so, now you know the story. Sam, the black cat wants to know what Maggie is doing. Sam seemed quite upset over the blow to feline superiority.
Read more