Author Institution: Department of Biology, Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio 4302

Burns, Robert D.

The Ohio Journal of Science

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BLUEBIRD-FLICKER CONFLICT.1—The Eastern Bluebird is well known forits aggressive behavior toward other hole-nesting species. On June 9, 1967, nearGambier, Ohio, I observed a pair of bluebirds attack a nicker in a dead elm treewhere the bluebirds had a nesting cavity. The flicker landed on a branch belowthat which contained the nesting hole. The female flew at the flicker first, andwas followed by the male. The flicker was jousted off balance, and held its beakopen in a threatening manner. The male bluebird flew at the head of the flickerthree times, while the female remained perched nearby. In one instance it ap-peared that the male bluebird's head was inside the beak of the flicker. Theflicker was hanging nearly upside down when it was finally driven from the tree.The wing-up display, which is usually associated with courtship, was given twiceby the bluebird male just prior to the first flying attack.—ROBERT D. BURNS,Department of Biology, Kenyan College, Gambier, Ohio 43022.1Manuscript received October 5, 1967.

Bluebird-Flicker Conflict

https://kb.osu.edu/bitstream/1811/5362/1/V68N01_059a.pdf

Bluebird-Flicker Conflict

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