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Birds doing it the octopus way : fright moulting and distraction of predators

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Author

Summary, in English

"Fright moulting" has been recorded in several orders of birds and interpreted as a way of escaping a predator when already caught. Two observations suggest that the behaviour may have another function, viz. when an aerial predator chases the prey. By shedding body feathers in the air the bird creates a cloud behind it; this might confuse the predator in the same way as the ink of octopuses confuse their predators.

Publishing year

1988

Language

English

Pages

165-166

Publication/Series

Ornis Scandinavica

Volume

19

Issue

2

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Topic

  • Behavioral Sciences Biology

Status

Published

Research group

  • Biodiversity and Conservation Science
  • Life History and Functional Ecology

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0030-5693