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cab67

(3,850 posts)
15. They're one of three bird groups that look like that.
Tue Mar 26, 2024, 02:20 PM
Mar 2024

The other two are roadrunners and African secretary birds.

Fun and useless fact - these three groups helped a student and I debunk one of the lines of reasoning behind claiming that larger and more "robust" tyrannosaurs were female. This was claimed, in part, because females are usually larger than males in birds of prey. But we showed that the degree of difference depends on feeding mode - females are substantially larger in birds that fly after other birds (e.g. goshawks, sharp-shinned hawks, some falcons), larger but not to a substantial degree in birds that subdue prey on the ground but feed in trees (e.g. most other hawks and eagles, owls), the same size as males in birds that feed on the ground (e.g. Old and New World vultures), and smaller than males in birds that hunt on the ground (e.g. secretary birds, seriemas, roadrunners).

This isn't to say larger tyrannosaurs were necessarily male, but the analogy doesn't work - tyrannosaurs weren't flying after their prey.

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1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

What type bird is this? Picaro Mar 2024 #1
It's a red-legged seriema, native to Brazil. Ocelot II Mar 2024 #2
Just came on to share this teach1st Mar 2024 #4
That figures. The seriema is the closest living relative of the extinct "terror birds." Ocelot II Mar 2024 #5
Gahh, glad the "terror birds" aren't still around! Wednesdays Mar 2024 #12
The term "terror bird" can apply to several groups that all post-date the KPg extinction. cab67 Mar 2024 #20
They're one of three bird groups that look like that. cab67 Mar 2024 #15
Fascinating...sounds like druidity33 Mar 2024 #17
It was for a thesis. cab67 Mar 2024 #18
I'm not sure I agree. cab67 Mar 2024 #21
Thanks Picaro Mar 2024 #8
aww barbtries Mar 2024 #13
Maybe it is, even if the purpose is to bust open or "kill" the golf ball. Ocelot II Mar 2024 #14
Is he loving it or pissed off that egg doesn't break? dem4decades Mar 2024 #3
Possibly trying to kill it. See #4. Ocelot II Mar 2024 #6
He's trying to chip in for birdie PJMcK Mar 2024 #16
Looks like he's trying to break it to me AKwannabe Mar 2024 #7
I'd like to think he learned how to play "ball" KS Toronado Mar 2024 #9
Can't break that egg open to get at the good stuff inside! LudwigPastorius Mar 2024 #10
Trying to open it. Seagulls did this at my Cape Cod home Grins Mar 2024 #11
He is a better golfer than you know who. Emile Mar 2024 #19
THANK YOU for making my day!!! Martin Eden Mar 2024 #22
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