Drinking Methods of Birds
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Jul 7, 2009 | by Adrian Binns
As the summer days become hotter, my backyard birds are making more frequent visits to the birdbaths to drink. Since drinking or bathing in an open area makes birds vulnerable to predators, most birds feel safer drinking with others or in flocks, so that some can keep a lookout as others drink.
Most birds drink by dipping their bill in water and tilting their head back so that the water runs down their throat. Look at the above sequence of photos of this American Robin. This motion is then repeated depending upon how much water they need. Doves and pigeons on the other hand are unique amongst birds, in that they have a distinctive way of drinking. The Mourning Dove (below) holds its beak in the water and continually sucks the water up, never having to tilt its head back.
While in Texas for the Rio Grande Birding Festival I noticed that Great-tailed Grackles (below) tilted their heads back even further than robins do. I wondered if this exaggeration was due to the longer bill and/or a longer neck?
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Adrian,
Now that takes some patience to sit and wait for different birds to arrive at your bird bath to take a few sips. Such a nice job!..very nice post with very nice photos!
Then there are the few that surprise you with their behaviors!! I snapped a robin at my feeder yumming away in the grape jelly feeder! First time I've ever seen a robin at a feeder! He returns every day for his daily fix!!
Yes it is not too often that a robin actually shows up at a feeder. I have a friend in Southern New Jersey whose Gray Catbirds love the grape jelly he originally put out for orioles.
A