Alpine Swift (Apus melba) Science Article 2 abstract 1) Sex-biased mortality in adult vertebrates is often attributed to lower immunocompetence and higher parasite susceptibility of males. Although sex-specific mortality has also been reported during growth, the importance of sex-specific immunocompetence and parasite susceptibility in explaining male-biased mortality remains ambiguous in growing individuals because of potentially […]
Category: Apodiformes
Adoption as an offspring strategy to reduce ectoparasite exposure
Alpine Swift (Apus melba) Science Article 4 abstract Adoption occurs frequently in colonial species where both the cost of parasitism and the opportunity for dependent young to find a foster family are typically high. Because ectoparasites show highly aggregated distributions among colony members, we tested two central predictions of the novel hypothesis that adoption is […]
Parasitism and developmental plasticity in Alpine swift nestlings
Alpine Swift (Apus melba) Science Article 3 abstract 1) Development plasticity is a common evolutionary and phenotypic response to poor growth condition, in particular in organisms with determinate growth such as most birds and mammals. Because various body structures can contribute differently to overall fitness, natural selection will adjust the degree of plasticity of each […]
Braces Emerald (Chlorostilbon bracei)
The story Although there is indeed fairly general acceptance of Brace’s Emerald as a valid species, the same doubts hang about it as in the aforementioned cases, and the present author considers it to be a rather poorly established species. However, a number of hummingbird experts have spoken in its favour and in line with […]
Moluccan Owlet-nightjar (aegotheles crinifrons)
[order] APODIFORMES | [family] aegothelidae | [latin] aegotheles crinifrons | [UK] Moluccan Owlet-nightjar | [FR] aegothele Moluques | [DE] Molukkenschwalm | [ES] Egotelo Moluqueno | [NL] Molukse Dwergnachtzwaluw Subspecies Monotypic species Physical charateristics Uperparts vrmiculated grey-brown, underparts pale with dark spots. Has a brown and rufous morph, probably with intermediates. has a very distinct call, […]
Mountain Owlet-nightjar (aegotheles albertisi)
[order] APODIFORMES | [family] aegothelidae | [latin] aegotheles albertisi | [UK] Mountain Owlet-nightjar | [FR] aegothele montagnard | [DE] Bergschwalm | [ES] Egotelo Montano | [NL] Bergdwergnachtzwaluw Subspecies Genus Species subspecies Breeding Range Breeding Range 2 Non Breeding Range Aegotheles albertisi AU New Guinea Aegotheles albertisi albertisi Vokelkop Pen. (nw New Guinea) Aegotheles albertisi salvadorii […]
Vogelkop Owlet-nightjar (aegotheles affinis)
[order] APODIFORMES | [family] aegothelidae | [latin] aegotheles affinis | [UK] Vogelkop Owlet-nightjar | [FR] aegothele de Vogelkop | [DE] Vogelkopschwalm | [ES] Egothelo Vogelkop | [NL] Vogelkop Dwergnachtzwaluw Subspecies Monotypic species Physical charateristics Uniformely sooty brown to black coloration with light-brown bars. Distighuished by lookalike Barred Owlet-Nightjar by more rounded wings. wingspan min.: 0 […]
New Caledonian Owlet-nightjar (aegotheles savesi)
[order] APODIFORMES | [family] aegothelidae | [latin] aegotheles savesi | [UK] New Caledonian Owlet-nightjar | [FR] aegothele caledonien | [DE] Schwarzrucken-Schwalm | [ES] Egotelo de Nueva Caledonia | [NL] Nieuwcaledonische Dwergnachtzw Subspecies Monotypic species Physical charateristics Large, dark owlet-nightjar. Plumage rather uniformly vermiculated grey-brown and black. Structurally distinct with short rounded wings, long, slightly rounded […]
Wallaces Owlet-nightjar (aegotheles wallacii)
[order] APODIFORMES | [family] aegothelidae | [latin] aegotheles wallacii | [UK] Wallaces Owlet-nightjar | [FR] aegothele de Wallace | [DE] Fleckenschwalm | [ES] Egotelo de Wallace | [NL] Wallace’s Dwergnachtzwaluw Subspecies Genus Species subspecies Breeding Range Breeding Range 2 Non Breeding Range Aegotheles wallacii AU New Guinea Aegotheles wallacii gigas s New Guinea, Weyland Mts. […]
Feline Owlet-nightjar (aegotheles insignis)
[order] APODIFORMES | [family] aegothelidae | [latin] aegotheles insignis | [UK] Feline Owlet-nightjar | [FR] Grand aegothele | [DE] Kauzchenschwalm | [ES] Egotelo Grande | [NL] Dwergnachtzwaluw Subspecies Monotypic species Physical charateristics Two well-defined color morphs-rufous and brown; intermediates also occur. upperparts have sparse whitish streaks or spots and prominent lateral crown stripes; throat is […]