This is a selection from a series of two male eastern grey kangaroos (
Macropus giganteus) in a dominance struggle, captured with a Bushnell 8MP trail cam. The battle went on for more than five minutes. Most of the images are from the latter part of the stoush. The sun is just about to rise directly behind them.
In the first image, they are facing off. They are up on their toes using their tails for support. Height is a big advantage and both would stand about 6 feet (180 cm) in this posture. They are about the same size. The perspective of the lens makes the one on the left look smaller in this first shot.
Getting stuck into it. They use their front paws to scratch at their opponent's face so the heads are usually well back.
Now the one on the left is trying to close on his opponent.
Still looking for an advantage. Another big buck kangaroo comes in of the right for a look.
Biting is allowed. Big buck on the right watches with interest. The two fighting are big, but I would estimate this spectator is bigger.
Break away for a moment.
.... and rest. Etiquette seems to require that there is no attack while one stands side on to the other. All fights seem to end with one conceding defeat by adopting this position.
But this time it is only a pause because they are soon back into it again. The big buck on the right continues to watch. The fight moved out of camera range after this and must have finished because the spectators all dispersed.