モズ

モズは漢字で百舌鳥と書き、他の鳥の物まねをすることが知られています。河原を歩いていると、季節でもないのにクチュクチュクチュと小鳥のさえずりが聞こえてくることがあります。耳を澄ますと、ツバメやヒバリや、特にコサメビタキのさえずりが混じっているように聞こえます。研究によると、他の鳥の鳴き声をうまくまねるオスは、メスの歓心買うことができるとか。以前紹介した早贄とあいまって、モテるオスになる条件らしいです。

In Chinese characters, the name of  shrike writes as 百舌鳥, namely a bird with a hundred tongues. Shrikes, especially male shrikes, are known to imitate other birds' chirping. As you walk along the riverbank, you sometimes hear the chirping of birds, even though it is not the season to see these birds. If you listen carefully, you will hear a mixture of the chirping of swallows, larks, and especially kosamebitakis, or Asian brown flycatchers. Studies have shown that males who successfully mimic the chirps of other birds can win the hearts of females. This, combined with the "early sacrifice" of the preys, I mentioned earlier, seems to be a condition for becoming a popular guy.

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Photo 2021-12-03