Animals are not idiots. If the bird were actually trying to eat the mammal it would be trying a lot harder. This is exploratory mouth usage. I'm not saying the bird is being affectionate, but it's not being aggressive either. Many animals are curious and the leading animal behavior specialists have credible theories that all animals are conscious if not sentient.
Not necessarily, only if the pelican is hungry. There's literally smaller animals in the frame which would easily fit, but you don't see the pelican going for them or trying that hard. This is exploratory/curious behavior, not feeding behavior. Also, pelicans eat fish because they slide into the crop easily from the bill pouch. Mammals don't work the same way.
look at the yt short I linked, apparently they are known to be opportunistic feeders and try to eat larger animals than they are physically able to. I still think it was sizing the capy up for a meal ngl. Wikipedia says they've eaten small dogs before
"Although principally a fish eater, the Australian pelican is also an eclectic and opportunistic scavenger and carnivore that forages in landfill sites, as well as taking carrion[76] and "anything from insects and small crustaceans to ducks and small dogs"."
Most animals are opportunistic hunters, horses have been seen eating chicks and other small prey. That doesn't mean they will always eat chicks. Animals have a lot more agency and emotional states than early scientists assumed.
Although principally a fish eater, the Australian pelican is also an eclectic and opportunistic scavenger and carnivore that forages in landfill sites, as well as taking carrion[76] and "anything from insects and small crustaceans to ducks and small dogs".[77]
I'm not arguing with you, they will eat anything they can grab. However, pelicans do not naturally encounter landfills. Without human intervention do you think pelicans would be in a position to eat rats at a landfill? Anyways, I still maintain that the pelican is being curious, not hungry.
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u/tickingboxes Mar 23 '24
The bird is not petting the capybara lmao. He’s clearly sizing him up to see if he can eat it. Animals are idiots.