I have so many finches I can’t count them all and I love
every single one of them. But I have a question. I have quite a
large bird feeder. They all come at once to feed and fight over spots to
eat. Maybe like 30 at a time. Then none of them come to feed
for maybe an hour or so. Then they all come again, all at the same time,
to feed again. Can you tell me why they all feed at once when it would be
so much nicer for them if they didn’t have to fight to get a space and came at
the time when the feeder is empty of birds? Do they feel safer eating all
together? Also, I have new smaller birds coming to feed that look like
the finches but have tiny dots on their chests. Are these a different
type of bird or are they babies? If you could answer my inquiries, I would be so grateful.
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| American Goldfinches Feisty and Ready to Fight |
You have made some really good observations. One of the best
things about feeding birds is watching all the stories unfold. This is real
reality entertainment right outside the window. I was just laughing with a customer the other day about how
my window feeder has two perches but if one side is occupied inevitably another
finch will shove that bird out of the way even though the other side was free.
Why?
AllAboutBirds.org
explains: Birds are doing a lot more than just feeding when they
visit your bird feeder. They are coming and going and interacting with
each other in a well-established social pecking order. At first it looks
like just a flurry of activity—but watch closely and you’ll start to see the
daily struggle of dominance playing out in your backyard.
Displacement: One
of the most common and easiest to see behaviors, displacement occurs anytime
one bird leaves to get out of the way of another bird. Within the same species,
generally speaking, males tend to dominate females and older birds dominate
younger ones. Feeder hierarchies can also involve birds of several
species, with the larger species usually winning out over the smaller.
Threat Displays or Appeasement: Sometimes a dominant bird displays aggressive
intent, with their bill or wing-spread display in the direction of the
subordinate bird. Or subordinate birds make appeasement displays that de-emphasize
their size by showing a sleeker, smaller posture and seem to shy away from
interaction.
Does Dominance
Matter? It is more than just birdy bullying, with age and experience comes
the benefit of better feeding. Research has shown that dominant birds forage in
safer spots and at safer hours of the day (when there’s less predation).
Accordingly, they get eaten by predators less frequently, are able to maintain
a better body condition throughout the lean winter months, and have higher
survivorship.
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| Pine Siskins alongside American Goldfinches |
Now on to why the finches feed in
flocks. Many birds form flocks year round like doves, starlings, waxwings,
crows, jays, and goldfinches. And some species form flocks just during the
winter like cardinals, bluebirds, chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches. While
other birds prefer to remain solitary like hummingbirds, woodpeckers, hawks,
and wrens.
1) Protection -
When birds join forces to flock together they can spot predators quicker and
then mob, distract or confuse attackers.
2) Foraging efficiency
– Sometimes scout birds are sent out in different directions and report back to
the flock where the best food can be found.
3) Finding mates –
Some bird species disperse after nesting season to find a flock to winter with
along with a mate for next spring.
4) Continuing
Education – Some species form family groups in the fall. Parent birds
continue to teach their young how to survive until they disperse in the spring
to find their own mates.
5) Fly in formations
– Certain birds’ aerodynamics conserves energy and allow flock members to see
each other and communicate while in flight.
6) Roosting – When
large flocks congregate at night, their shared body warmth can help them
survive extremely cold temperatures.
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