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An observation of parental infanticide in Dickcissels (Spiza americana): video evidence and potential mechanisms.
- Source :
-
Wilson Journal of Ornithology . Jun2018 Supplement, p341-345. 5p. - Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- Brood reduction by parents via infanticide is considered rare in passerine birds; however, this behavior may be underreported because of the difficulties observing behaviors at the nest and because researchers tend to attribute partial nestling loss to other causes. Here, we report a confirmed incidence of parental infanticide by Dickcissels (Spiza americana). While video-recording parental behavior, we documented a 4-day-old nestling being removed by a female Dickcissel. This bird was also observed brooding and feeding, so this event was likely a parental infanticide. We subsequently examined monitoring data from 162 hatched Dickcissel nests across 2 breeding seasons to identify instances of unexplained partial nestling loss, which could potentially be attributable to infanticide. Our data indicate that 9.1-12.7% of hatched nests experienced these events. Infanticide by genetic parents could (1) benefit survival of remaining brood mates by reducing food requirements, disease, or predation risk; (2) represent responses to cuckoldry or intraspecific brood parasitism; (3) represent cases of mistaken chick identity; or (4) be triggered by unusual stressors. We recommend that ecologists monitoring bird nests consider infanticide as a possible explanation for partial nestling loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *INFANTICIDE in animals
*DICKCISSEL
*EGG incubation
*BABY birds
*ECOLOGISTS
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 15594491
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Wilson Journal of Ornithology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 130631056
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1676/1559-4491-130.1.341