Date of Award

1985

Document Type

Thesis

Department

Biology

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the form and location of wing-flashing behavior in mockingbirds and to identify differences in flashing between young and adult birds through film analysis techniques and observation. Subjects consisted of 50 mockingbirds from the University of Richmond campus. Analyses of the data suggested that there were three types of wing-flashes based on degree of wing extension. Flashes were most likely to occur in direct sunlight and in grass. No significant differences in the form of flashes between adult and juvenile mockingbirds were found. It is hoped that this study will provide insight into the function of wing-flashing in mockingbirds.

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Biology Commons

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