Abstract

TUBELIS, Dárius P.  and  FUJIKAWA, Aline. Playing in the skies: The White-rumped Monjita (Xolmis velatus) coordinates its flight with flights of other bird species. Rev. etol. [online]. 2010, vol.9, n.1, pp. 41-44. ISSN 1517-2805.

Play is a behavior known for some groups of birds. This study aimed to report on play performed during flight by the White-rumped Monjita (Xolmis velatus) in central Brazil. On two occasions, one X. velatus was observed coordinating its movements with those of other bird species while flying over savanna vegetation. By pairing at their side, this tyrant coordinated its the flight trajectory with those of a Campo Flicker (Colaptes campestris) and a Peach-fronted Parakeet (Aratinga aurea). Several attributes of this behaviour characterise play. This is the first study to report on parallel locomotor play for a bird species.

Keywords : Birds; Locomotor play; Cerrado; Tyrannidae; Flight; Xolmis.

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