In 1988, a researcher spotted a male Hooded Warbler (which the researcher named Y) building and sitting on a nest within the territory of another male (which the researcher called X). This was unusual for several reasons.
Male warblers rarely build nests and tend not to sit on the eggs or nestlings. Plus, the banded male was a fierce singer who usually defended his territory from other males!
Y and X cared for their nest together, feeding nestlings. It’s not clear where those nestlings came from- it’s possible that another Hooded Warbler laid eggs in an act of same-species brood parasitism, basically leaving her eggs for someone else to raise. The nestlings might have been Brown-headed Cowbirds, which also practice brood parasitism. The fate of this nest is unknown.
A month later, Y turned up on the territory of another nearby male (Z). Z and Y had a nest with one Brown-headed Cowbird and two baby Hooded Warblers. Z would bring food to the nest, feeding his waiting mate and nestlings.
It’s tough to conclusively label these birds, but it’s pride month, so. Gay warblers!
I can 100% guarantee you that bird is doing this on purpose. It may not have initially known what a windshield wiper does, but it knows now, and it is enjoying that.
Naked with Mouth -> fluff with Mouth -> awkward feathers with Mouth and also Legs -> mostly coordinated feathers with Legs and Wings -> adult (mostly Wings)
Precocial baby birds:
Fluff with Legs -> awkward feathers with Legs -> mostly coordinated feathers with Legs and Yelling -> adult (more Yelling)
this is primarily an obnoxious ad for the enamel pin above (pre-order it here, folks!), but I’m gonna use this opportunity to compare Velociraptor to modern descendants, and see how it stacks up!
Velociraptors & cassowaries evolved hypertrophied claws for entirely different purposes – the ‘slashing, killing claw’ of the Velociraptor is a myth, but modern-day cassowaries have the Real Deal, a ice pick-like weapon on their second toe that can grow to 5 inches.
“The inner or second of the three toes is fitted with a long, straight, murderous nail which can sever an arm or eviscerate an abdomen with ease. There are many records of natives being killed by this bird” – ornithologist Ernest Thomas Gilliard
notice how the cassowary has a straight dagger, while Velociraptor has a hook? modern equivalents to Velociraptor’s hypertrophied claw are eagle talons, used for gripping prey & maneuvering in trees. because it was a terrestrial runner, Velociraptor held this tool off the ground to keep it razor-sharp, but modern birds-of-prey (given the luxury of flight) have transformed ALL their talons into the famous Velociraptor sickle claw!
tl;dr turns out the group aves used the last 66 million years to advance their weaponry & out murder-bird their ancestors (sorry Velociraptor!)
interesting update!! another modern analogue exists, in the Seriema
though they can fly short distances. Seriemas prefer running from danger. they are the closest living relative to the flightless Terror Birds, which preyed upon proto-horses in the Miocene! the red-legged species is used by farmers to guard property against wild animals & human intruders & DEAR GOD you can easily see why:
Seriema feet are not used when capturing/killing prey, but the raised claw is apparently involved in intraspecies conflict, wherein two Seriemas will rear up & kick at eachother, flapping their wings to maintain balance
SO was Velociraptor’s claw used for arboreal maneuvering & RPR (raptor prey restraint) like an eagle, or intraspecies fighting like a Seriema? unfortunately they are quite dead, so we’ll never know (though I’d put money on it being a multipurpose tool!)
Reblogging for birb foot science!
Well, that’s a horrifying thought, Velociraptors hopping around in trees to jump on unsuspecting prey. I mean, even if they were only about turkey-sized, that’s still a pretty impressive thing to have coming at your face with several feet of falling momentum behind it.
Also, please watch this furious modern dinosaur scream at and try to frighten a car.
BettSplendens Tumblr Evac 