Pecking Orders

It's interesting observing the pecking orders in our garden. Whilst bigger birds like magpies, jackdaws, wood pigeons and even blackbirds take precedence, there's also a clear delineation between other species, though things can vary. Blue tits, for example, come close to the bottom of the pile, and really only coal tits give way to them - but the pair nesting in the box not far from the feeding station have developed a feisty willingness top see off more or less any other bird that comes near. Generally, of the small birds, the nuthatch is top of the pile, though last year we had one that was uncharacteristically timid. Usually the nuthatch will only give way to the great spotted woodpecker. Of the finches, greenfinches are the boss birds, extending their necks and batting with their wings to see other birds off. Chaffinches, always looking rather ungainly at the feeders, are a long way down the list, but goldfinches have a high status, and the little siskins will hold their own with the greenfinches. Bullfinches approach cautiously, but once in place give way to no-one. The robin is not very good at using the feeders, but is often quite combative. A lot of its energy is spent though on seeing off other robins, and, for some reason, dunnocks (which, most of the time, just peck around at ground level away from the firing line). Great tits are unsurprisingly first among the tits, and long tailed tits sort of just drift in and out. The blackcap we had through the winter was very quick to defend "his" food supply . . . but, come spring, though still around became much more tolerant. We get collared doves, too - one has realised that by perching in a rather ungainly fashion on the sunflower feeder he can cause quite a spillage of seed, which he and his mate can then exploit at ground level. There's a little mouse appears when that happens, too.