The fearless tiny one

Taking advantage of another free theme for this week's SMAP, here's another species that was probably the most present on my last vacations in Morocco. A tiny bird, but with a big personality!

^{House bunting - Emberiza sahari, male}

These guys seem to be all over the place, and they're definitely not shy! Males and females are different, male's grey head and chest makes for an easy way to tell sexes apart. Check the female below, where there's almost no contrast between head and body:

As I arrived to our Riad, they were already jumping back and forth in the inner courtyard, and I noticed how they didn't seemed that disturbed by our presence, since they continued to walk around. And not long after we entered the room, and left the door open... they decided to check the room too! They do deserve their name, house bunting!

And there was even some vanity involved!

One would think this is a learned behaviour, and the continuous exposition to human presence makes them a bit more tame; I don't doubt that plays a role, but I would say they have some natural tendency to be nearby people.

Why do I say this? Well, because I was able to witness first-hand how this "trust in humans" seems to be present even from the first months of life! As I moved to another town, I arrived at the room late in the afternoon... and behold, what lodged in the room window:

A fledgling bird! As you can see, the plummage is not yet fully developed, but at this time they are already capable of short flights, although they are still dependent from their parents. This little one seemed to have flew from a nearby nest, and I used the term "lodged" because he had fallew to a small hole hear the window, and seemed unable to fly away from there. I picked it up and placed it in the window, and he didn't struggled at all. Just stood there kind of thinking "Thanks, mate!"

I was unsure if he could really fly from there, and as I approached my hand slowly, instead of being scared... he decided I could probably serve as a better viewpoint!

In case you're wondering, no; I haven't placed it there: he simply climbed to my hand and decided to hop and climb until he was at my shoulder!! See when I say human trust comes from the nest?

As I placed him on the window again and decided to go and get some food, as I returned home I noticed he wasn't there, and spotted him on the opposite wall.

And at that time, the chirping assured me that at least one of the parents was keeping an eye on him.

Hope the tiny one makes its way to adulthood, because nature can be cruel sometimes. One thing I know: he doesn't lack bravery! :)

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