New meaning to 'down the wing'
Published Date:
06 September 2008
BIRDS are popular football club mascots. Norwich City have adopted the canary, Sheffield Wednesday, the owl and Newcastle United, the magpie. But now, it seems, birds have adopted the traits of football fans.
A Bristol University study of the South African green woodhoopoe suggests that avian groups behave like rival team supporters.
The birds live in groups of up to 12 and engage in raucous vocal displays to intimidate other birds, much like opposing football fans. They also found that the birds preened each other after a fight, particularly if they had lost, or the fight had lasted for a long time.
"Just as football fans commiserate with their friends in the pub when their team loses a match… birds support one another following contests with their rivals," said researchers.
Altogether now: "Can you hear the finches sing?"
The full article contains 144 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
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Last Updated:
06 September 2008 12:59 AM
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Source:
The Scotsman
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Location:
Edinburgh
