[Birdtalk] Fighting Sparrows

[Milt Moody]

I just saw a very strange thing:  When I went to my kitchen window there were two male House Sparrows locked in what looked to be a death grip on my lawn.  They were rolling around, flapping their their wings, but mainly hooked together at their bills and neither one would let go.  There were 3 female House Finches (ya, that's finches) looking on with heightened interest.  I watched for a minute or so wondering how long this was going to go on, when a pair of California Quail left their small chicks and , lead by the female, came over to the fighting birds. (Maybe the sparrows were setting a bad example for their young kids?!)  Anyway, the female quail stepped in to break up the fight and started pecking the sparrows on their heads, which seemed to do the trick. After 4 or 5 good pecks, the sparrows flew off.  I've never seen anything like that.  There seemed to be some sort of inter-species concern for proper social behavior or something.  I was
 left shaking my head in amazement.

Milt Moody



      
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