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The secret of predation: Why can this bird pry open shells so easily?
The Common Bustard (Haematopus ostralegus), also known as the Common Bustard, is a wading bird found in wetlands around the world. This bird is particularly eye-catching with its striking black and white feathers, straight orange-red beak and red eyes. As a member of the Bustard family, the main food source of the European Bustard is shellfish, especially shellfish. Its ingenious hunting techniques allow it to easily pry open those hard shells. What is the reason for this?
Appearance and characteristics of the European Bustard
The European Bustard is relatively large, reaching 40-45 cm in length, with a bill of 8-9 cm and a wingspan of 80-85 cm. It has distinctive white markings on its wings and tail, and black above and white below, making it particularly conspicuous when flying.
Although it is named after the bustard, its diet is not actually mainly oysters.
The sexes of this bird have similar characteristics, but the females have longer beaks than the males. The call of the European Bustard is clear and loud, and it is even more eye-catching when flying in groups.
Diverse predation techniques
The European bustard has a variety of hunting techniques and is particularly good at prying open shells. Its strong, broad beak enables it to pry open shells with force, a skill that is primarily taught by its parents and varies between individuals. Some bustards use the tip of their bills to dig for worms, while others specialize in prying open shellfish, a technique that can be seen as a specialization that develops with age.
Individual bustards specialize in a single technique, which makes them much more efficient at hunting.
Reproduction and brooding behavior
The breeding period of the European bustard is generally between three and five years old, and its pair bonds usually last for many years. They mainly nest in coastal areas or on gravel islands inland. The nest is very simple in structure, usually laying two to four eggs in a small depression in the sand.
The eggs are pale yellow with dark spots on the surface and average about 57 mm x 40 mm in size. Both parents incubate the eggs before they hatch. The chicks leave the nest within one to two days after hatching and are cared for by both parents.
Conservation status of the European Bustard
Due to their large numbers and distinctive behaviour, the European Bustard occupies an important position as an indicator species of ecosystem health. Long-term studies of its predatory behavior have been carried out in northern Germany, the Netherlands, and certain areas of the United Kingdom, providing valuable data for the development of modern behavioral ecology.
SummaryNot only is the Ringed Bustard eye-catching for its charming appearance, but it is also famous for its superb hunting skills for catching shellfish. The survival and reproduction behavior of this bird reflects its relationship with the environment. So, in the face of a changing natural environment, how can we better protect these unique birds?
