Witness the mesmerizing display of male riflebirds as they showcase their extreme wrist flares and feather noises in a new video. The mystery behind how these show-offs create such loud percussion has finally been unraveled by science. According to Thomas MacGillavry, a zoologist at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, researchers initially believed that birds clapped their
The team captured new footage of a male Victoria’s riflebird (Ptiloris victoriae) in action and closely examined specimens of other species. As the male bird moves his head, he intermittently closes his beak, momentarily concealing his beautiful yellow throat lining. The rhythmic whacking of his beak against fanned out feathers creates a unique sound akin to a stick dragged against a picket fence.
The graceful arc of feathers that serve as the percussion surface is truly remarkable, curving inward like a cape fluttering forward. Such intricate movements require an incredibly flexible wrist.
2024-10-21 10:00:00
Source from www.sciencenews.org
