FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Interesting Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Behavior

["David Hollie" <featherbrain1223@xxxxxxxxx>]

On top of the multiple Red-breasted Nuthatches that visit the feeders every
few minutes and a female Purple Finch, I noticed my FOS (finally!!)
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. They were making a bunch of racket and fighting,
which I see a lot, but then I saw the weirdest thing! They looked together
and started spiraling down to the ground (like I hear story's of eagles and
other raptors during courtship), and right before they hit the ground they
separated and flew to different trees, still making racket. I would have
watched more but a photographer from the Chattanooga Times was taking
pictures of me by the feeders (they're doing an article about Young Birders
soon).
Has anybody heard of this behavior in Sapsuckers or any other non-raptor?

Good Birding!!

David Hollie
RInggold, GA
Catoosa Co.


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