How do blackbirds... (1 Viewer)

[helenol]

when I see a blackbird with its head cocked to one side on the grass, I've always wondered how they are detecting the presence of worms.

Can they "hear" them, or do they detect some kind of vibration in the earth? Or is it just pot luck?

 

[Bluetail]

I think I'm right in saying that the head cocking has more to do with seeing than listening. Birds can't swivel their eyes like we can, so have to move their heads. Not sure they can hear them, but others will know far more about this than I do.

Jason

 

[birdman]

I've also heard that the head cocking is a "seeing" thing.

Like you Helen, I would also go for detecting vibrations.

Perhaps they "feel" the earthworms but watch the surface insects?

 

[jayhunter]

I always believed that they were listening to the chitae (stiff bristles) on the sides of the earthworm, as they moved along their burrows.

 

[helenol]

chitae....learn something new everyday on here! Worms have stiff bristles?

 

[birdman]

Crikey... that brings back memories! O-level Biology... yep... worms have bristles (although I don't remember them as chitae.)

 

[Adalia]

You did O level biology Birdman,I never got that far,have had to muddle through somehow!!!I too have always thought that blackbirds needed to cock their heads to see their quarry.

 

[jayhunter]

I thought once they heard where the worm was moving through it's burrow it then stamped it's feet to represent raindrops falling. The worm then wriggles out of its burrow and just like the worm catching championships, the blackbird gets his meal.

 

[Colin]

The other possibility is that they are looking upward, for a possible predator. I have seen flocks of geese do this and the reason is invariable either another set of birds winging in to join them or a bird of prey in the area (usually no direct threat to the geese) or a high flying aeroplane (silver dot in the sun type).

 

[helenol]

Bob, I've never seen a stamping blackbird! Maybe I should take more notice....

 

[pauco]

Helen.
Blackbirds do detect worms by sight& vibration.
hence as you see the head cocking, they see the
worm at the top of its burrow and are able to grasp
it, unlike starlings who can isert their beak in the ground and open it to grasp leatherjackets.
they have good eyesight & are very sensetive to
movment.
regards bert.

 

[jayhunter]

My apologies for my spelling Chaetae is the correct spelling, but I was going back to O'level studies. As with worm charmers who use spades to tap on the ground, or twang garden forks all to simulate rain to encourage the worm out of its burrow, the blackie uses its feet.

 

[seb_seb]

Worm charmers? lol

 

[helenol]

charming!

 

[Fuchsia]

I watched a thrush so this just yesterday and couldn't work out what it was doing until - out came a great big worm! Didn't see any dancing tho.
Fascinating stuff!

Jen

 

[pauco]

Just something else to watch out for, when driving
along near grass verges and you see a blackbird
with his head cocked to one side, the vibration of
traffic brings worms to the surface and yes he is watching for them.
bert.