- Not-of-the-Feather-I.mp3
- Not-of-the-Feather-I.mp4
- Not-of-the-Feather-II.mp3
- Not-of-the-Feather-II.mp4
[Intro]
Squawk talk
Your tweet ain’t so sweet
[Verse 1]
That old crow
Doesn’t know
Squawking blue jay
Has his say
Point-of-view
Another day
I guess so…
Here we go
[Chorus]
These birds aren’t of the same feather
They don’t want to flock together
It’s not a matter of whether
When in a flight, take flight
[Bridge]
Swoop and dive
Might collide
Mobbing the robbing
Retrospect peck
[Instrumental, Guitar Solo, Drum Fills]
[Verse 2]
Did you listen to the squawk
As they chase away the hawk
The shocking mocking bird
Calls it all absurd
[Chorus]
These birds aren’t of the same feather
They don’t want to flock together
It’s not a matter of whether
When in a flight, take flight
[Bridge]
Swoop and dive
Might collide
Mobbing the robbing
Retrospect peck
[Instrumental, Whistle, Percussion, Woodblock, Cowbell]
[Bridge]
Swoop and dive
Might collide
Mobbing the robbing
Retrospect peck
[Instrumental, Synthesizers, Whistle, Flute, Piccolo]
[Chorus]
These birds aren’t of the same feather
They don’t want to flock together
It’s not a matter of whether
When in a flight, take flight
[Instrumental, Whistle, Percussion, Woodblock, Cowbell]
[Outro]
Swoop and dive
Might collide
Mobbing the robbing
Retrospect peck
A SCIENCE NOTE
Birds like blue jays, crows, and hawks often do not get along with other species due to several factors related to competition, territorial behavior, predation, and social dynamics. Here’s an explanation of these factors:
Competition for Resources
- Food and Nesting Sites: Many bird species compete for the same food sources and nesting sites. For example, blue jays and crows are omnivorous and may compete for insects, seeds, fruits, and even small animals. This competition can lead to aggressive interactions.
- Territoriality: Birds often establish territories that they defend against intruders. Blue jays are known for their territorial behavior, often chasing away other birds from their feeding areas or nesting sites.
Predation
- Predatory Threats: Hawks are birds of prey that hunt smaller birds and mammals. Other bird species, including blue jays and crows, often perceive hawks as threats and will mob them to drive them away from their nests or feeding areas.
- Nest Predation: Crows are known to raid the nests of other birds, stealing eggs and chicks. This behavior creates animosity between crows and other bird species, leading to defensive and aggressive behaviors.
Social Dynamics
- Mobbing Behavior: Many bird species, including blue jays and crows, engage in mobbing behavior where they collectively harass a predator or perceived threat to protect their territory or young. This behavior is often directed at hawks and other birds of prey.
- Dominance Hierarchies: In areas where multiple bird species coexist, dominance hierarchies can develop. Larger, more aggressive species like crows and blue jays may dominate smaller birds, leading to frequent conflicts.
Examples of Specific Interactions
- Blue Jays: Known for their aggressive behavior, blue jays often chase away other birds from feeders and nesting sites. They are also known to mimic the calls of hawks to scare away other birds.
- Crows: Highly intelligent and social, crows often form large groups and can be very aggressive towards other birds, particularly when defending their territory or food sources. They are also known to mob predators like hawks.
- Hawks: As top predators, hawks instill fear in many bird species. Smaller birds often mob hawks to protect themselves and their young, leading to frequent confrontations.
When a small bird chases and makes contact with a larger bird, this behavior is known as “mobbing.” Mobbing is a defensive behavior where smaller birds collectively harass or attack a larger bird, often a predator, to protect their territory, nests, or young. This behavior is common among many bird species and serves to drive away the perceived threat.