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We have two bird feeders in our garden to study birds that visits the garden on a regular basis. Birds that normally visits are the following:

Southern Mask Weavers
Southern Red Bishops
Cut-throat Finches
Red-headed Finches
Bronze Mannikins
Cape Sparrows
House Sparrows
Speckled Pigeons
Laughing Doves
Mourning Collard Doves; and
Ring-necked Doves.

The doves also feeds from the floor where the bird feeder is situated, whilst the other birds make use of the feeder.

About a week ago me and Hilda detected three male Pin-tailed Whydah's visiting the feeder. They do not to feed but chase all the other birds, including the doves away from the feeder.
Why does this happen and what can be done?

Why do any male act in this way? Some nice girlies to get.

They will soon have dead girlies Scipio! They will die from hunger!

Hi Barry

Nothing much you can do, Pin-Tailed Whydah's are quite territorial and they are really the Jack Russels of the birding world as they don't actually know how small they are.

I would say it is a treat to get them in the garden, and jsut enjoy it

I used to have PT Whydah's at my previous home and they will eventually settle down and feed alongside the rest of the birds. It is probably just because there are more males in the vincinity so they take it out on each other and the other birds

Nowt I'm afraid barryels. They are 'dominant' birds and don't put up with any other species they can boss around. I am not sure if it is just in their breeding plumage, but maybe Oom or Joh or another highveld birder can add to this.

It is just the way they are.. they are territorial and aggresive, but I have seen them feed alongside other birds as well, so I am sure this was all due to other males being in the vicinity.

Thanks DD

I was replying when you did.

Cause the strongest, gets the girls.

'Tis the season to be happy and breeding.

And I said the strongest, not the biggest.

There is one at my feeder too. It seems that they only act mucho when in breeding plumage. When they are or dull and small they are nowhere to be seen.

I have notice that some dove's and weavers don't stress to much about him and then he will leave them alone. But the poor manikins is the ones that gets pin to the ground.

When the ladies are eating he will defend them against any other bird that gets to close to his harhem.

He will disappear when the ladies are happy and his tail falls out.

Thanks for all the comments. Must say they do have a lot of stamina . This is already the fourth day and they still don't allow any bird, including doves near that feeder . It is however a joy to see them operate like that .

This is how they operate in my Garden. Some shaky action pics.

Smallest bottles ... bigest poison.

Great pictures LaeveldLeeu! They are really very cheeky but brave little birds!

Great pic's laeveldleeu . Thanks for sharing .

That could have been the one that I observe every day . Thanks LaeveldLeeu

He keeps me rather amused at times and doesn't even bother too much about the cats. This morning I watched him perched on a waving pine branch getting ready to dive bomb the doves. It is definitely his bid feeder, his wife/wives, his garden.