• Treczoks@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    I assume the bird tries to break open the “eggs” it found. I know, boring explanation for an absolute funny video.

    • ancap shark
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      6 months ago

      Not eggs, but prey. They use this movement to break its bones and kill it.

      It’s a siriema if I’m not mistaken. There are a bunch of them in the country side of where I live (Brazilian Cerrado). They are absolutely fantastic animals

    • intensely_human@lemm.ee
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      6 months ago

      I assume the bird’s knowledge is inarticulate and all it knows is that it’s very satisfying to slam the ball on the concrete.

  • Skkorm@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    This is a bird called the Sereima, and what you are seeing isn’t random behavior: it’s how they hunt. They chase rodents and lizards down, grab them with their beaks, then slam their prey down onto rocks repeatedly until they stop moving.

    Metal as hell.

  • Ð Greıt Þu̇mpkin@lemm.ee
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    6 months ago

    A surprisingly wide range of animals will engage in play behavior

    Bumblebees have been shown to love having small beads around for them to roll around and on

    Edit: sheer amount of people replying who can’t just let the silly birb have fun. Guess what, dogs and cats derive play behaviors from predation too, doesn’t mean that play ain’t play.

    • Lyre@lemmy.ca
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      6 months ago

      I think you’re right, but i also remember learnning that some birds have learned to break nuts open using concrete, which i think is what this bird is trying to do

    • ancap shark
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      6 months ago

      If I’m not mistaken (resolution doesn’t help), this bird is a Siriema. They use this movement to kill their prey (usually reptiles like snakes and lizards, but also frogs and small rodents). It is not playing, it is confused, thinking the ball is food.

        • PumaStoleMyBluff@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          Yes

          Do it once because it’s instinct

          Keep doing it because it’s fun (had an unexpected amusing result, which is the basis of fun, really)

      • afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        It is not playing, it is confused, thinking the ball is food.

        I am just picturing some alien biologist studying us

        “This human is operating a video game called a FPS. It may seem like he is playing but really his instincts for self defense and attack are just misfiring. It isn’t recreational it is just confusion”

    • threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.worksOP
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      6 months ago

      Guess what, dogs and cats derive play behaviors from predation too, doesn’t mean that play ain’t play.

      Humans also derive play behaviour from foraging and predation. Play is play, and everyone can have fun, no matter the species.

    • KittyCat@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      This isn’t play, its probing to see if it can break open the funny egg and eat it. These birds do this to all their prey.

  • toxoplasma0gondii@feddit.de
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    6 months ago

    And he is so eager doing so. Looks like the most important task all day with him runnig up to the path. He puts everything he got into smashing that ball onto the concrete as hard as he possibly can and is all fluffed up when that thing inevitably comes down again to nearly hit him. Almost like a toddler.