white17 -

You've really opened up the proverbial can-of-worms with that question, and it was only in 1947 that the question was fully researched and answered (Johnson, 1947. The Canadian Field-Naturalist). The "breakup bird" is actually a member of the woodpecker family (Picoides sinepagem), and is one of the few birds that has a huge, oversized phallus. The male apparently prepares a "dance arena" on the ice of a river, by first displacing snow through frantic flapping of his wings. It's usually about a meter in diameter. After being stimulated by a receptive female at his arena, he pecks a hole in the center of the arena about a centimeter in diameter and 6-8 cm deep. He inserts his penis into that hole for added stimulation prior to copulation. This is usually in the evening, and friction from his ministrations melts a bit of the ice in the hole. If sub-freezing OAT, the thawed water will re-freeze, and he's inadvertently stuck "with his hand in the cookie jar" (so to speak). The noise you refer to are his cries of pain and anger at his predicament.

I'm not sure if the moniker "break-up bird" is because this breeding scenario occurs during the annual spring breakup of ice, or if it's in reference to the fact that the female, once the male is "caught", usually departs the area, thus the "break-up".

All clear?

Jack

Thanks to all that shared the great pictures.
Mac

That is worse than joining the 330 or 220 club----ouch........jk

Cool pictures. Thanks for sharing

Got it !! That is obviously why the cited literature is from JOHNSON !

Some shrimp boats.