In response to my curiosity concerning why two Dickcissel males would attempt copulation, Sheri Williamson sent the following info: Sheri Williamson Arizona Southeastern Bird Observatory otter@PRIMENET.COM Kinky as it sounds, young males sometimes practice their moves on each other, particularly if a bird of the opposite sex isn't available; this probably happens more often where young males resemble adult females, as in Dickcissels, or where the sexes are alike in all plumages. In birds that form long-term bonds but have skewed sex ratios in their populations it's even possible for homosexual pairs to develop (female pairs have been recorded in some gulls, for example). Naturally, this isn't the kind of thing that gets mentioned in the average family-oriented bird guide <grin>, but it's a likely explanation for the behavior you saw. Young males often don't breed in their first season anyway, but let's hope if they come back next summer that there are some females with them! (I'm not making a lifestyle judgment here, it's just that we need more Dickcissels.)