White-eyed Vireos are a fast, elusive song bird.

This one was intent on food. He picked a worm off a leaf and flew down to an open branch to eat it.

But first he beat it a few times.

I’ve seen song birds gather a stack of worms or insects in their beak and thought he might be rendering this one ready for a flight to a nest.

No, this one was for him.

One gulp and it was gone.

Even a short moment is a story.
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Astonishing photographs of this amazing moment, Eliza! I didn’t realise they knocked them out before eating!
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Thanks, Peter! Me neither–I’ve seen Kingfishers do it with fish, but not the small birds with their tiny catch.
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Wow, these are excellent captures Ellen! And as Pete says, I also didn’t realize what they do to the worm before swallowing them. Might be tickling if they don’t?
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Thanks, Greta! 😁 maybe so on the tickling. I half expected to see the bird lose his grip and the worm go flying.
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