<
https://theconversation.com/how-bruce-the-half-beak-kea-weaponised-his-disability-to-become-the-alpha-bird-280993>
"Bruce the kea is missing his entire upper beak. Yet he is the alpha bird of
his circus (the apt collective noun for a group of New Zealand’s famously
playful alpine parrots).
As our latest research shows, Bruce achieved his alpha status not despite his
disability, but because of it.
In a remarkable example of behavioural innovation, he has developed a novel
technique to fight his opponents.
Bruce essentially weaponised his disability by using his sharp lower beak to
joust other kea, propelling himself forward with such vigour that he nearly
topples over, but not before the other birds jump back in a flurry of orange
and green feathers.
Like other kea, Bruce will also kick to establish dominance, but the other
birds simply can’t match his secret weapon because their intact upper beaks
curve over the bottom beak, rendering this spear-like weapon unusable.
It is his jousting behaviour that has enabled Bruce to win every one of his
contests and become the undisputed king of the circus.
So effective is this novel behaviour that Bruce seldom has to fight, making him
more relaxed than the other birds over whom he reigns supreme."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
