I think we recognize play when we see it, because we are wired for it too. It may be the playful competition for a feather. A form of Swallow football?   I personally have not witnessed this, but I have witnessed other playful behavior in birds.  I've seen a Brown Pelican toss and catch a stick over and over again (from a sitting position). I've see a Western Gull juvenile pick up a stick, hover in the air, drop the stick, and try to catch it. This was a repeated behavior too.  And I've observed a Cassin's Kingbird toss and catch a berry repeatedly. And let's not forget the playful behavior of our parrots and cockatoos, even though we don't observe it in the wild.  We don't hesitate to label the antics of many mammals as play.  I don't think we should be too quick to label the behavior of animals that aren't mammals as not being playful.
Michelle MaaniVancouver, WA

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