Silverbills are a common species of Munias in Uttar Pradesh. They commonly engage in allopreening, meaning a bird preening another (as opposed to itself). And - as you can see - the preenee is better off than the preener. If one is not doing the trick, then maybe two will! (Photographs taken in Lucknow district, dated Nov 27, 2008)
Nice private munia moments!
ReplyDeleteAh, Mr. Sunder, so you've been doing a bit of avian voyeurism, I see. This is a right royal Muniage a trois!
ReplyDeleteDear Gopi,
ReplyDeleteNice blog and great photos. I'm a biologist (ethologist), birdwatcher and author (Pleasurable Kingdom, 2006). I'm wondering if you would grant me permission to use one of your allopreening silverbill photos in a powerpoint presentation I'll be giving on animal sentience? I would be happy to include your name or link to your blog on the slide, if you like.
Thanks for your consideration,
Jonathan Balcombe, PhD
13518 Ansel Terrace
Germantown, MD 20874
USA
Tel: + 301-916-4114
Cell: + 301-466-2982
pumilla@verizon.net
Forthcoming: Second Nature: The Inner Lives of Animals (Palgrave Macmillan, March 2010)
Forthcoming: Exultant Ark: A Pictorial Tour of Animal Pleasure (Univ of California Press, Sept 2010)
www.pleasurablekingdom.com
www.jonathanbalcombe.com