49 Pukeko Communication

Key Idea: Pukekos use a range of visual displays for communication between indiviudals. Postures provide a very important form of communication between animals. The ethogram (behavioural profile) below illustrates the various postures exhibited by the pukeko (Porphyrio porphyrio), a New Zealand wetland bird. The pukeko has an unusual social organisation. Over 90% of the birds are communal, living and breeding together in groups of 3-12 individuals. Social behaviours are often graded from those involving overt aggression to those that are entirely submissive. Some birds almost always show submissive behaviour while others habitually show aggressive behaviour.

1. Pukekos have a graded range of display behaviours of increasing aggression or submission. In the spaces provided, use the symbols (+, –, 0) to indicate the degree of aggressiveness, submissiveness, or neutral body language for each of the behaviours shown.

2. Why is a lot of animal communication ritualised?

3. What might be the purpose of graded intensity in ritualised behaviour?

Ethogram for pukeko behaviour

1B

1A

Fighting. One bird jumping with feet ready for clawing and beak open for pecking.

2A 2B

Fighting. One bird in aggressive upright posture with wings and tail raised and feet raised. The other bird is in the aggressive upright but not attacking.

3

Full bow. Submissive wings and tail fully up.

4A 4B

Fighting. Both birds in aggressive uprights and using feet to attack.

5A 5B

Facing away. Submissive display to an aggressive upright bird.

6A 6B

Fighting. Both birds jumping with feet ready for clawing and beak open for pecking.

7

Aggressive upright. Wings down. Tail horizontal.

8

Move away. Submissive display. Wings exaggerated. Tail fully up to uncover white feathers.

9A 9B

Crouch. Submissive display to an aggressive upright bird.

10

Horizontal forward. Aggressive display but not as aggressive as an upright.

11A 11B

Head flagging. Submissive display. Head held low and moved from side to side.

Range of aggressive/submissive behaviours 12

Head flick. Submissive display. Usually at end of encounter. Wings exaggerated, tail fully up. Beak held too high to peck at other bird.

++ very aggressive + slightly aggressive 0 neutral – slightly submissive – – very submissive