“A pair of Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) was observed in August 2009 having a squabble at Seletar Mudflat. Before this picture was taken they were chasing each other over the mudflat for a good two minutes. Then everything got heated up and they starting fighting with their feet. The fight ended when one was pinned down momentarily by the victor!”
Tan Tze Siong
18th December 2009
An earlier post shows a pair of usually peaceful Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) fighting over a feeding territory. The birds usually indulge in a “mandibular clash” using their long bills to settle a territorial dispute. In the above image the two Common Sandpipers are confronting each other using their feet, and most probably also their bills.