Acrobatic sparrow

SheffieldLass · #1 (**permalink**) 19-01-2011, 10:58 PM

Sorry, no pictures, too far away, but I noticed a male house sparrow hanging completely upside down on my seed feeder which has the typical metal straight perches. The seed level had dropped beneath the upper perch ports, and this house sparrow has learnt that by hanging upside down it can get food from the lower port whenever the sparrow on there takes its head out of the port. I watched it do this a few times. I know they can face down on peanut mesh feeders and on fat balls but didn't realise they had the nimbleness to hang from a metal perch. He landed then just swung round to dangle head down, and stayed there for quite some time .. got through quite a few seeds before flying off. Much more effective behaviour than trying to force the other sparrow off.

Anyone else seen this?

kimmy · #2 (**permalink**) 20-01-2011, 06:36 PM

No I havent but that is clever. I also have a tiny juvenile Sparrow or Reed bunting who whenever my long clear plastic seed feeder has dropped below level of feeding, actually goes in through an upper feeding port hole which is like a small window right down to bottom inside, gets his seeds and flies up and out the upper porthole no bother to him .................He has learnt that there is not enough room to go through the lower feeding holes but there is more at the upper portholes and thats where he flies in ............I was amazed first day I saw him inside feeder totally and then to see him get out easily.....

SheffieldLass · #3 (**permalink**) 20-01-2011, 11:14 PM

There are some clever birds out there! Your little bird will be nice and safe from sparrowhawk attack whilst feeding - maybe a genetic advantage it'll pass on to further generations.

aeshna5 · #4 (**permalink**) 21-01-2011, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

There are some clever birds out there! Your little bird will be nice and safe from sparrowhawk attack whilst feeding - maybe a genetic advantage it'll pass on to further generations.

I wouldn't put money on that!

nightshade · #5 (**permalink**) 21-01-2011, 07:46 AM

Individual birds can do some very interesting things, I have not seen one go inside a feeder (yet) but as I have said before you can see more if you look.
Just sit and watch in your own garden, often there is no need for binos even.
Look for the daily spider hunt along under ledges on walls, under the capping on fences,around window frames, the examination of seed/flower heads all sorts of birds doing odd things and acrobatics as they take up the slack where a bird like the Sparrow is no longer common