ML199470721

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Observation details

Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio viridis – intraspecific agonistic behaviour Intraspecific agonistic (conflict/combative) behaviour is common in Purple Swamphens. Encyclopedia.com (2020) states “In the purple swamphen, the position of the tail and wings is important in agonistic display, while differing body postures indicate aggression or anxiety”. Wells (1999) states “Persistent pumping of the tail flirts the lower tail-coverts as a social signal”. I watched intraspecific agonistic behaviour, with 7 birds involved, continually over 15 minutes. 2 of these birds were immature. The location where it happened has many, very large ex-mining pools serving as a wetland habitat. The one I was watching was 200 by 200 meters across, with extensive Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) cover. I was sufficiently far away so that their behaviour could be observed undisturbed. The density and mobility of the Water Hyacinth raft meant that bird could sink lower into the vegetation and some behaviour was harder to observe. In the past I was unsure if this was courting behaviour, territorial breeding behaviour or territorial feeding behaviour (Amar 2010). My current opinion is that the behaviour I observed is related to breeding. I am of the opinion that this type of intraspecific agonistic behaviour is related to developing a hierarchical structure within a ‘group membership’. The behaviour began with a ‘call to arms’ – a long drawn out call by one adult and a ‘fly-in’ by that adult into a group of 4 other birds. Two other birds then flew in to join the altercation. The intraspecific agonistic behaviour is best described as a ‘melee’, a free-for-all tussle and fight. The behaviour observed (using some terminology by Craig 1977) included sparring with feet, pecking and pulling of feather with beaks (Post 4), birds jumping up (launching) with feet ready for clawing (Post 6), wings exaggerated up (Post 5), head down with wings up and white lower tail-coverts flirted posture (Post 2), wings expanded hunch display (Post 3), extensive circular chasing/pursuing. Occasionally some loud calls were made during the fight. Once it was completed to their satisfaction, birds settled down together in the same location to preen but I noticed that two adults pulled aside and did a “head flick, wings exaggerated up, tail fully up” posture (Craig 1977) (Post 1). This spoke to me of courtship. These two birds then flew off together.

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