Observations of Commensal Foraging Associations Between the Common Blackbird and Native Australian Species

Abstract

This note describes two cases of a native bird species feeding commensally with the introduced Common Blackbird Turdus merula while the latter was feeding on the ground: juvenile Masked Lapwings Vanellus miles, and a Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla. In both cases the native species followed, and appeared to benefit from, the Blackbird’s foraging activities.