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A series of images showing a white cheeked barbet thrashing a garden lizard against a tree trunk. This a typical behavior amongst many birds which other than killing the prey eases swallowing / feeding by softening the prey and removing hard and spiny parts like scales , hard exoskeleton, stings and spikes. Note how the tail is removed and the head portion with harder skull and spikes is thrashed repeatedly.
Rgds
Roopak
The tail is almost cut
head banging - ozzy style
checking if the job is well done..
I wish i had made a video. wud been much better
rgds
Roopak
Rgds
Roopak
Wonderful series. A sanskrit shloka says, "Jivo Jivasya Jivanam". meaning one living creature is the life for another living creature.the weak are the subsistence of the strong.
Thanks for sharing.
Lovely sequence of events. Had never seen this behaviour in the barbet.
Have seen a similar behaviour commonly in Green Bee Eaters with Dragonflies and bees possibly to stun the prey/get rid of toxic secretions. This here however looks like a way to incapacitate the lizard. Nice documentation. Thanks for sharing.
Brilliant! This behaviour is commonly seen in kingfishers when they catch fish or lizards, never thought that barbets do it too... in fact, i've never seen barbets preying on lizards. A very valuable record.
TFS
Thank you for sharing these wonderful pictures . I have never witnessed a Barbet killing a lizard. Keep up the good work.
Terry from the UK.