>
>1. Fox Sparrow on a cedar branch about three fet off the ground twitching its
>tail rapidly and spinning around on the branch. I observed the bird for
>almost five minutes. It kept its wings tucked in for the most part and was
>silent during this exercise. The movement was extremely rapid, almost blurred
>and continuous. There was another bird on the other side of the lot doing its
>normal two-footed shuffle in the leaf litter. At one point the spinnig bird
>flew into the interior of the cedar then back out and continued for anotehr
>five minutes or so. It was oblivious to me when I wen t out for closer look.
>
>
>Mike Waller
>WP Zoo
>
The weird behavior of the Fox Sparrow would make us look for an owl.

While looking to see if Fox Sparrow was in the Stokes Behavior Guides (it
isn't), we came across American Robin and decided to check for the eek call.
Although Tweeters had already concluded it was an alarm call, it was nice to
see it in print. The Stokes Guide, A Guide to Behavior Vol 1, pg 213 - 222,
attribute a Teek Call to situations of possible danger.


Bill and Nancy LaFramboise
Richland, WA
wlafra at oneworld.owt.com