After my impromptu behaviour rave the other day, I checked the BNA acount by Jerome Jackson (of Ivorybill fame) and Henri Ouellet. It seems that I praised the hummingbird without mereit and neglected other possible models. The say: " The Butterfly Flight,one of the most spectacular displays of the Downy Woodpecker, is typically performed on sunny, warm spring days prior to nesting. Male and female follow (or chase) one another in a flight characterized by holding the wings high and flapping them slowly and weakly like a butterfly, moving dancelike through open spaces between trees,sometimes on a level course and at times in long, deep loops......Kilham(1962) referred to it as courtship flight and batlike, and noted the use of repeated check or queek calls." So props to butterflies and bats as well. DH

--
David Hutchinson, Owner
Flora & Fauna: Nature Books
Discovery Gardens: Native Plants
3212 W.Government Way
Seattle,WA.98199
http://www.ffbooks.net/
206-623-4727



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