I have seen Eastern Kingbirds exhibit this behavior both in WA and in NY. Bathing on the wing seems common practice for these aerial acrobats.

Jeff Kozma
Yakima
----- Original Message -----
From: Pjgumbo at aol.com
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2006 11:52 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] Query on Kingbird Feeding


Returned last weekend from needed and glorious circuit that included US and Canadian Rocky Mtn parks, return including Okanagan Valley, one of several stretches I had not previously visited. Birds were definitely in my heart all the way, to the tune of several pounds of books and such (Birds of the Okanagan alone is a bit of an albatross, though contents terrific). But I am still a neophyte, enjoying even confirming birds I no doubt have observed and enjoyed several decades ago without concern about the species.

So I have no rarities to report, just joy at confirming such semi-commonplaces as Common Loons (including brief awe-inspiring welcoming recital by one of a threesome on lake near Jasper), Pine Grosbeak at top of Banff gondola, Ravens at Maligne Canyon among many places, and Common Yellowthroats in wetlands near Banff.

However, at Lake Vaseur (sp?), south of Penticton, which I have come to understand is a bit of a local birding mecca, we observed a black-gray-white critter dropping briefly into shallow water to the point of wetting wings (and possibly feeding?). This happened repeatedly over the course of several minutes, bird perching in willow/shrub in between partial immersions. Might have been merely cooling or bathing, but it was for me pretty unusual bird behavior. Having been tantalized at Spencer Island a month or so ago by what my son and I have a hunch was E. Kingbird, that is what came to mind this time too. It seemed generally the right shape, size, and coloration, although I did not have picture in hand at the time. Is the water behavior credible for this bird?

Paul Johanson
North Beach
Seattle


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