[MDOsprey] Williamson Clarifies Oland Rd Dickcissel Behavior

Guineabird@aol.com
Tue, 1 Jun 1999 20:21:01 EDT


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.)