The Minds and Manners of Wild Animals: A Book of Personal Observations

In our great collections of birds drawn from all the land areas of the globe, our bird men see much fighting. Mr. Crandall has prepared for me in a condensed form an illuminating collection of facts regarding PUGNACITY IN CAPTIVE BIRDS 1. Most species do more or less competitive fighting for nesting sites or mates, especially: Gallinaceous birds,--many of which fight furiously for mates; The Ruff, or Fighting Snipe (Machetes pugnax),--very pugnacious for mates; House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) fight for nesting places and mates; and Some Waterfowl, especially swans and geese, fight for nesting places. 2. Most species which do not depend chiefly upon concealment, fight fiercely in defense of nests or young. Typical examples are: Geese; Swans; The larger Flycatchers; Birds of prey, especially the more powerful ones, such as Bald Eagles, Duck Hawks and Horned Owls. 3. Some species fight in competition for food. Conspicuous examples are: The fiercer hawks; Some carrion eaters, as the King Vulture, Black, Sharp-Shinned, Cooper, Gos and Duck Hawks, which fight in the air over prey. 4. Certain birds show pugnacity in connection with the robber instinct, as: Bald Eagle, which robs the Osprey; Skua and Jaeger, which rob gulls. 5. Some species show general pugnacity. Species to be cited are: Cassowaries, Emus and Ostriches, all of which are more or less dangerous; Saras Cranes, which strike wickedly and without warning; Some Herons, especially if confined, and Birds of Paradise, which are unreasonably quarrelsome. 6. In non-social birds, each male will fight for his own breeding and feeding territory. The struggle for territory is a wide one, and it is now attracting the attention of bird psychologists.