Height Dominance - Myth or Reality?

[entrancedbymyGCC]

I don't know where the advocates of that concept got their data so I'm not going to comment on that. I will note that for some reason Scooter likes to sit on top of my head, and aside from occasional concern about bird dropping pomade I have not noted any negative effect from this.

It seems to me that one of the arguments involved assuming that parrots see our faces as "us" and the rest of our body as a "tree" and that seems like a very naive model, even if height dominance IS a real effect.

Is their no hierarchy at all in a wild flock? If there is danger, do they not react as a unit? Does half the flock fly off and half not? Or is there someone who makes the decision for the group?

[Michael]

My understanding is that the flock mentality is "ever bird for himself" sooner than "all for one and one for all." The fact is that by flying in a flock is done for selfish self preservation reasons rather than saving your neighbor. So when one parrot senses danger before others and darts off, the rest follow just in case. They fly off and stay as a flock because each individual is safer by flying in that flock. The steering of the flock is an interesting concept but I think it has to do with some individuals turning a certain way and others following them and everyone else following those. I don't think it is specifically directed by a certain flock leader. But then again there is so little info about it and I have not seen wild flocks (aside from feral monk parakeets).

[entrancedbymyGCC]

But how does one judge that? Does the first bird to make a change always direct the entire flock, or does the flock sometimes ignore a particularly bird-brained member? Basically ANY group animal lives in a group because it benefits them, so I'm not sure that's an argument. Horses stay in herds because it is too their benefit not because the are altruistic, but they are VERY hierarchical and constantly striving to move up a very complex ladder. From a distance it still looks like they all flee at once, FWIW. Is there a good book on flock dynamics?

[Michael]

I'd be really curious about that. I'm not really certain and just trying to throw guesses out there. There probably is some extent of hierarchy but it seems more unofficial and less competitive than in animals like dogs or horses.

[notscaredtodance]

You could use Canadian Geese as an example. It's not really ideal, because theyre so different from parrots, but when they fly in a V shape, with a leader, it really has nothing to do with leading, and they rotate out which goose flies in the front, and then that goose moves to the back, like a relay race. This is an example of one bird taking control for a bit, but it is for the whole flock to save energy, because the formation makes them more aerodynamic. So it's a cooperative sort of leadership that is not fought for, and is better for the entire flock.