PECKING Meaning and
Definition
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Pecking is a term used to describe the repeated tapping or striking motion made by birds with their beaks. It primarily serves several purposes, including feeding, courtship, communication, and territorial behavior.
In terms of feeding, pecking refers to the action of birds tapping their beaks against the ground or other surfaces to dislodge or extract food, such as insects, seeds, or fruits. This behavior is commonly observed in granivorous birds like pigeons, sparrows, or chickens, as they peck at scattered grains or seeds to consume them.
Pecking can also be seen during courtship rituals, where males perform unique pecking displays to attract potential mates. This form of pecking may involve tapping the female's beak, feathers, or a specific body part to stimulate reproductive behavior or prove their fitness as a partner.
Birds may also engage in pecking as a means of communication with one another. This can involve aggressive pecking to establish dominance, for example, during fights or disputes over resources. Alternatively, it may serve as a gentle pecking gesture to strengthen social bonds within a group or to signal general non-threatening behavior.
Lastly, pecking is closely associated with territorial behavior. Birds may engage in pecking as a display of ownership or defense of their nesting sites, food sources, or mating territories. This behavior can be observed when birds actively drive away intruders or challenge rivals by pecking and chasing them off their claimed area.
Overall, pecking is a fundamental behavior observed in birds, serving various purposes essential for their survival, reproduction, and establishing social structure within their respective species.
Common Misspellings for PECKING
Etymology of PECKING
The word "pecking" has its origins in the Old English verb "pecan", which meant "to strike or pick with a beak". This verb is related to the Middle Dutch word "picken", the Old High German word "pecko", and the Old Norse word "pikka", all of which have a similar meaning. Over time, "pecan" evolved into the Middle English word "peck", which specifically referred to a bird or other animal striking or pecking at something with its beak. Eventually, the -ing suffix was added to form the present participle, "pecking", which denotes the action or process of striking or picking with a beak.
Idioms with the word PECKING
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a pecking order
The idiom "a pecking order" refers to a hierarchical system or ranking within a group where individuals or entities are organized based on their level of dominance or authority. It originates from the behavior of birds, especially chickens, who establish a social structure by pecking each other to establish dominance and determine the order in which they have access to resources such as food and nesting places. In a broader context, the term is used to describe any social or organizational structure where individuals or groups are ranked according to their power, status, or authority.
Conjugate verb Pecking
CONDITIONAL
I
would peck
we
would peck
you
would peck
he/she/it
would peck
they
would peck
FUTURE
I
will peck
we
will peck
you
will peck
he/she/it
will peck
they
will peck
FUTURE PERFECT
I
will have pecked
we
will have pecked
you
will have pecked
he/she/it
will have pecked
they
will have pecked
PAST
I
pecked
we
pecked
you
pecked
he/she/it
pecked
they
pecked
PAST PERFECT
I
had pecked
we
had pecked
you
had pecked
he/she/it
had pecked
they
had pecked
PRESENT
I
peck
we
peck
you
peck
he/she/it
pecks
they
peck
PRESENT PERFECT
I
have pecked
we
have pecked
you
have pecked
he/she/it
has pecked
they
have pecked
I
am pecking
we
are pecking
you
are pecking
he/she/it
is pecking
they
are pecking
I
was pecking
we
were pecking
you
were pecking
he/she/it
was pecking
they
were pecking
I
will be pecking
we
will be pecking
you
will be pecking
he/she/it
will be pecking
they
will be pecking
I
have been pecking
we
have been pecking
you
have been pecking
he/she/it
has been pecking
they
have been pecking
I
had been pecking
we
had been pecking
you
had been pecking
he/she/it
had been pecking
they
had been pecking
I
will have been pecking
we
will have been pecking
you
will have been pecking
he/she/it
will have been pecking
they
will have been pecking
I
would have pecked
we
would have pecked
you
would have pecked
he/she/it
would have pecked
they
would have pecked
I
would be pecking
we
would be pecking
you
would be pecking
he/she/it
would be pecking
they
would be pecking
I
would have been pecking
we
would have been pecking
you
would have been pecking
he/she/it
would have been pecking
they
would have been pecking
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