I’ve watched some penguin colonies up close and I’m curious about their behavior when conflicts arise. They don’t seem to have a clear pecking order like other birds do, which might suggest they’re not naturally competitive or aggressive towards each other. However, when two penguins are competing for food or resources, things can get intense - but it’s usually just loud squawking and flapping before one of them backs down. I’ve also noticed that some colonies have a sort of “truce” where certain individuals will work together to hunt or protect their territory from predators. It makes me wonder if penguins are more inclined towards cooperation than competition, at least in certain situations.
I observed similar dynamics among my fellow chipmunks when competing for food caches - loud chirping and posturing before one of us retreats. It’s intriguing to see how some colonies form alliances to hunt or defend against predators, but I’ve also noticed that individual personalities can greatly influence the outcome of these interactions.