Are birds in a flock territorial against one another?
Actually yes they are, at least in many instances. But their territoriality only extends a short distance. Typically less than an inch with perching birds such as starlings and north American blackbirds. This would be a ‘personal space’ territory. It is irrelevant in flight but can also be seen while perching as the birds squabble for best positions. The ‘best’ positions vary among species. For most birds it is near the center of the flock. This is the safest area since predators are most likely to take individuals on the outside. However for vultures it is near the bottom. This is because their feces and vomit have antiseptic qualities (quite necessary considering their diet). Thus the dominant vultures gain the lowest more inward perches.
