Its feathers are ruffled up and its beak open whilst he sits motionless for tenminutes or more. He has done this on several occasions in recent weeks.
2006-06-12 13:09:28 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
I think he's sunbathing. He will probably go somewhere and preen afterwards. I believe it not only helps get rid of mites but they also get some vitamin D from the action of the sun on the oils on their feathers.
I have seen blackbirds spreadeagled on the ground doing this - eyes half closed, beaks open. You think that they are sick or something and then you realise it's a kind of ecstasy!
They will also sit on an ants nest and let the ants crawl into their feathers. Some people say they actually like the ant bites (or the formic acid) - kind of like an antiseptic, perhaps.
If you can provide a birdbath (just a shallow dish of water, kept replenished), he will enjoy that too.
I finally found a picture!
2006-06-12 13:25:11 · answer #1 · answered by Owlwings 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, he is communing with you. If you could translate what those little eyes are flashing to you in morse code, he would be saying "I - am - hungry - please - go - into - your - kitchen - and - grab - me - a - big - handful - of - breadcrumbs - I - will - wait - until - you - return - and - thank - you - very - much!" (Sorry it took me so long to translate, but that's a lot of blinks!) The blackbird is probably choosing your decking because you are so kind and loving toward birds, generally (birds know these things), and he knows he will score a decent dinner if he is just patient with you. Of course, if you do feed him his dinner, it will make you feel good, too - so, please do include him when you dine. Sent to you with a smile from G. in South Portland, Maine, U.S.A.
2006-06-12 13:35:51 · answer #2 · answered by GORDY 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What time of the day is this?
I'd hazard a guess that he's recouping after some kind of energetic activity.
2006-06-12 22:11:09 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just chillin'.
Probably catching some sun in a peaceful place away from traffic, cats, dogs, kids etc.
2006-06-17 23:13:44 · answer #4 · answered by monkeyface 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Seizure disorder.
2006-06-12 13:50:38 · answer #5 · answered by xaviar_onasis 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its trying to freak you out lol which sounds like its working
2006-06-12 13:26:56 · answer #6 · answered by jackie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe its that edgar allen poe bird (never more... never more...) ooOOOooo
2006-06-13 23:44:02 · answer #7 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋