An observation of parental infanticide in Dickcissels (Spiza americana): video evidence and potential mechanisms

作者：Coon Jaime J^*; Nelson Scott B; West Amy C; Bradley Iris A; Miller James R

来源：The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 2018, 130(1): 341-345.

DOI：10.1676/1559-4491-130.1.341

• avian trapping technique
• Band-tailed Pigeon
• columbid
• New Mexico
• whoosh net

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.

• 出版日期2018-3