Nest Site Preference and Clutch Size in the Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca

1987 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tore Slagsvold
Keyword(s):  
Clutch Size ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Ficedula Hypoleuca ◽  
Pied Flycatcher ◽  
Site Preference

scholarly journals Breeding biology and long-term population dynamics of the Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca in Skibotn, Northern Norway

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 17-27
Author(s):  
Antero Järvinen
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Ficedula Hypoleuca ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Breeding Biology ◽  
Deciduous Forests ◽  
Pied Flycatcher ◽  
Source Population ◽  
Northern Norway ◽  
Long Run

Abstract. The breeding biology and population dynamics of the Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca in pine, mixed and deciduous forests in Skibotn, Northern Norway (69°20’N, 20°20’E), was studied during 33 years (1987–2019; in total 1775 completed first clutches). It was a period during which summer temperatures remained relatively stable, but late spring (May) temperatures tended to become warmer. The number of breeding pairs declined over the study period but varied less than in populations living in more harsh subalpine environments. In spite of the northern location, females started to lay eggs in a relatively late phenological phase of the environment and in relatively warm weather. The date of birch leafing and the date of egg-laying advanced during the study period, and they correlated with each other. Mean clutch size was 6.4 eggs, and mean number of fledglings/nest 4.6. Date of egg-laying was earlier and clutch size larger in deciduous forests than in pine and mixed forests, but this did not translate into better fledgling productivity. The main causes of nesting failure were predation by small mustelids and starvation in warm and dry summers. However, in the long run the population seemed to be able to maintain itself without immigration, i.e., act as a source population. The possibility that during warm climate periods of the past, breeding biology and population dynamics of Pied Flycatchers over large geographical areas might have resembled those in Skibotn is discussed.

Maternal clutch reduction in the pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca : an undescribed clutch size adjustment mechanism

2006 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 637-641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Lobato ◽  
Juan Moreno ◽  
Santiago Merino ◽  
Juan J. Sanz ◽  
Elena Arriero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clutch Size ◽  
Ficedula Hypoleuca ◽  
Pied Flycatcher ◽  
Adjustment Mechanism ◽  
Size Adjustment

Do Pied Flycatcher Females Defend an Extra Nest Hole Against Conspecific Females?

Behaviour ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 136 (7) ◽  
pp. 865-875 ◽  
Author(s):  
Osmo Ratti
Keyword(s):  
Brood Parasitism ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Paternal Care ◽  
Food Resource ◽  
Ficedula Hypoleuca ◽  
Pied Flycatcher ◽  
Nest Box ◽  
Young Females ◽  
Nesting Site ◽  
Per Se

AbstractIn birds, females are often aggressive against conspecific females during the breeding. There are many explanations for this intrasexual aggression by females: e.g., nest site or food resource defence, prevention of intraspecific brood parasitism or infanticide, and monopolization of paternal care. A pair might also benefit by defending an alternative nest site in addition to the current nest site. Here, I study by experimentation whether pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) females defend an extra nest box as an alternative nesting site. Further, I examine whether females behave differently when their mate is present vs not present. I measured the reactions by resident females to a caged female intruder when provided with an extra nest box. I did not find any evidence that females defended an extra nest box. However, females spent less time near the caged intruder when their mate was present and instead seemed to guard him, most likely to secure his contribution to feeding the young. Females were also aggressive when their mate was absent and when there was no alternative nest site suggesting the importance of defending the current nest site per se.

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