His reactions seemed a little overdramatic if you ask me. After all, kingfishers are 9 times larger (heavier) than Cliff Swallows.
This is the adult male Belted Kingfisher I’ve been photographing this spring and summer. Two weeks ago he was wet from a fishing dive when he landed on this stump which was so close to me I could barely keep the entire kingfisher in frame, even with his wings folded. All but one of the photos in this post are full frame (uncropped) so that gives you an indication of how little room I had to work with.
I wish I’d had time to remove my teleconverter to give me more room in the frame but the action began almost immediately after he landed here so all I could do was fire away and hope I’d get lucky with a few shots that didn’t have clipped or cut off body parts.
Here he’s beginning to react to an incoming and very aggressive swallow that took major exception to his presence on this perch. I didn’t get a good look at the swallow – it was most likely a Cliff Swallow but it could have been a Barn Swallow. And there could have been more than one of them.
When his wings went out in defense I had no chance of keeping all of him in frame but his dramatic defensive postures were still fun and interesting to see.
He kept turning on his perch to follow the incredibly quick swallow in flight which compounded the difficulty of keeping him in frame.
I usually couldn’t see the swallow through my viewfinder of course so the only way I could estimate how close it was to the kingfisher was to watch his wing position. The closer the swallow got…
the higher he raised his wings. In this shot I didn’t have a single pixel to spare between his right wingtip and the frame edge. You can’t come any closer to clipping a wing than that without actually doing it.
When the swallow would zip past him he’d follow it with his body which gave me the opportunity to photograph his dorsal plumage in good light.
A closeup of a highly agitated kingfisher. I have no idea where the second catch light in his eye came from. There isn’t a second one in any of the other photos. The only thing I can think of is that it might be the reflection off of the bumper of a passing vehicle.
This is the only cropped photo in today’s post.
On this section of the stream the kingfishers have two favorite perching areas – one to the north and one to the south, separated from each other by about 100′.. When kingfishers perch in this area, the one to the south, it isn’t unusual for swallows to attack them. I’ve photographed those attacks in the past at this same spot but with the kingfisher on a different perch.
But when kingfishers perch in the area to the north I’ve never seen swallows bother them and I’ve often wondered – why the difference? The swallows nest far away from both areas so I’m sure the aerial attacks aren’t in defense of their nests, which kingfishers would be unlikely to bother anyway. Swallows and kingfishers don’t compete for food so why do swallows attack kingfishers at one spot but not at the other?
Sometimes I wish I could read the minds of birds.
Ron
Sensational Ron! Thanks for sharing!
Charlotte Norton
I’m relatively early (for me) today and yet so late to this party…. Since I have no additional thoughts on the “whys and wherefores” of this interaction, I will just say I do love your pics and Mr. KF’s punk-rock look! 😎
Thank you, Chris.
And there’s way more going on in those minds of birds than the average person gives them credit for!
Almost certainly so, Jim.
All I can think is the swallow was extremely nearsighted and mistook the Kingfisher for a big bug. In any case our hero triumphed and held his ground. I love happy endings.
Happy for the kingfisher at least. And for the photographer because I got the photos, clipped body parts and all.
Poor Kingfisher! But lucky us that we get to experience the fracas vicariously through your skilled eye. Sounds like swallows are jerks.
Marty, I don’t know if they’re jerks but they sure do have an attitude at times.
Fantastic images! The description of the situation definitely gives it context.
Thank you, Bruce.
When opportunities arrive you have to improvise and you sure did. Outstanding series. Wet and ready to fight. It is a mystery why swallows of any kind would have any concerns about him. Probably just territorial.
Last time I saw one species buzzing all over another was two Robins to a Great Horned Owl. Like the fourth and fifth shots best.
Everett, the swallows don’t seem to bother other species in either spot so it’s a mystery to me why they’re aggressive to kingfishers in one spot and not the other.
Wonderful series and a great opportunity to see all of that beautiful plumage. 😃
Thank you, Kathryn.
Wow.
Drama queen (king?) or not, he certainly considered himself under attack.
What an incredible series – and I am wracking both of my brain cells wondering why the swallows attack in one area and not the other (particularly when you ruled out protection of the young).
Dang, EC – aren’t you up in the middle of the night?
The swallow nests are about a quarter mile away from this spot and they’re not near the stream so I don’t think that’s their motivation.
Voluntary work. I am waiting for the final calls – and yes it is approaching midnight. Well after my bedtime particularly after a 3am start.
You said that the nests were well away from that site and both my brain cells are buzzing looking for motivation.
Wow, what an exciting experience… for both you and the kingfisher! Great photos, glad you kept shooting without changing lenses.
Thank you, Sam.
WOW! No accounting for territorial interests it seems. 😉 Raptors just seem to leave/hunker down when that happens. Perhaps this one has been “bopped” by one at some point. Dramatic photo’s for sure! Maneuvering on the perch with those stubbly little legs much be a challenge.
68/smoke/clouds this morning – 3 drops of rain last evening – UGH!
Judy, I keep thinking of Red-tailed Hawks that often completely ignore aerial attacks by songbirds.
Last evening we had about one more drop of rain than you did.
Hmm, is “attack” the right word? Is the swallow vocalizing? One on one? Maybe just a fun game for a swallow and the kingfisher is easily offended to the kingfisher’s amusement?
oops, meant to the swallow’s amusement!
Terri, attack is the right word as far as I’m concerned. The swallow’s aerial maneuvers were highly aggressive. And based on the reactions of the kingfisher I’d say he considered himself under attack.
But go ahead and substitute “mobbing” if you prefer.
For such a difficult set of circumstances those photos are amazing. Really amazing. Observing, questioning, trying to solve life’s little puzzles, that’s one of the things that makes getting up every morning so interesting. Hopefully the mystery will be solved by someone who will share the answers here because I confess to a small addiction to these adventures by proxy. Wish I had been there!
” I confess to a small addiction to these adventures by proxy”
I have the same affliction, Pat. Only mine isn’t by proxy.
Great pictures to see this morning with my coffee
Thank you Ron!
I’m glad you enjoyed them, Theresa.