"Irrelevant" ground pecking in agonistic situations in burmese red junglefowl (Gallus gallus spadiceus)

Threatening cocks may suddenly peck at the ground, pick up a food grain and swallow it. The occurrence of a feeding pattern during threat appears to be out of context and seems functionally irrelevant. Kruijt (1964), concluded from his data that ground pecking in threatening cocks is caused by disinhibition of feeding, in addition to which redirection of aggression plays a role. He further suggested that the occurrence of ground packing depends on the ratio of the tendencies to attack and to escape. ... Zie: Summary