The whistler | Facts & Information

Origin

Whistlers are wading birds (birds with unpalmed feet, living in wet or muddy areas), grouped in several inerrant species, among which are the collared Whistler (Philomachus pugnax), which we find during the passage period (migration to Germany) and in the Danube puddles or in the Baragan.

In Romania this bird is also called bataus. It generally lives in the northern part of Eurasia, in floodplain and marshy areas.

In Romania this bird is also called The Bully.

Whistler Feed

On their long journeys the whistlers often expend their energy on long migrations, and to fuel their flight they tear apart portions of their body tissues. At the first opportunity, however, they stop to feed and rest.

They generally feed on the eggs laid by fish such as crabs. They bend for 10-14 days, until they double their weight, then restart on the trip.

Whistler Features

It is a protected bird about 30 cm in size.

Males, usually larger than females, possess a collar around the neck during the rut, which they lift during the nuptial ritual, this collar being formed under the action of the male sex hormone.

The characteristic tufts of feathers in the area of the ears, which vary greatly in color and allow the males to distinguish themselves clearly within the colony. The ritual before couples are formed is extremely interesting.

Breeding Whistler

Once you reach the brooding site, the males delineate several territories, where they gather for communal grubbing, while the females stay nearby.

Males first walk briskly, with small steps, after which they pass into the state of chop, in which they often remain for several seconds.

While they stand still, their heels are much bent, their head bowed forward, their collar raised and their tail unfolded.

Pair formation is also a rather complicated process, because there are all forms of transition, from monogamy to polygamy, both in males and females.

The nesting place is determined by the female. Males circulate between the nesting sites of different females, but most of the time they prefer one of them all.

During brooding, however, they leave, forming large cards, while the female remains to finish brooding and raise the chicks.