Category: Passeriformes

Genetic, environmental and maternal effects on magpie nestling-fitness traits under different nutritional conditions: a new experimental approach

Corvidae, Passeriformes

Magpie (Pica pica) Science Article 6 abstract Rearing full siblings under different environmental conditions allows partitioning of the totalphenotypic variance of a trait into its genetic and environmental components. This, in naturalbird populations, is usually achieved by cross-fostering experimental designs. We estimatedgenetic and environmental components Liesbeth De Neve et al, Evolutionary Ecology Research, 2004, 6: […]

Reduced immunocompetence of nestlings in replacement clutches of the European magpie (Pica pica)

Corvidae, Passeriformes

Magpie (Pica pica) Science Article 1 abstract Laying date is one of the most important determinants of reproductive success and recruitment probability in birds. Late breeders usually fledge fewer chicks than individuals with earlier breeding dates, and fledglings produced late in the season have high mortality rates. Food availability and nestling mass have been evoked […]

Effects of begging on growth rates ofnestling chicks

Corvidae, Passeriformes

Magpie (Pica pica) Science Article 2 abstract We investigated whether an increase in begging levels delays growth of chicks. In experiment 1, we hand-reared nine pairs ofring dove squabs, divided into a control and a begging group. All squabs received similar amounts of food, but those in thebegging group had to beg for a prolonged […]

Nest size predicts the effect of foodsupplementation to magpie nestlings on theirimmunocompetence: an experimental test ofnest size indicating parental ability

Corvidae, Passeriformes

Magpie (Pica pica) Science Article 9 abstract Post-mating sexually selected signals are expected to indicate parental quality. The good parent model assumes that expression ofthe sexual character positively reflects parental ability, resulting in a potential link between the exaggeration of the character andnestling-fitness traits. We tested this prediction in a population of a monogamous passerine, […]

Antagonistic antiparasite defenses: nest defense and egg rejection in the magpie host of the great spotted cuckoo

Corvidae, Passeriformes

Magpie (Pica pica) Science Article 3 abstract Brood parasites dramatically reduce the reproductive success of their hosts, which therefore have developed defenses against brood parasites. The first line of defense is protecting the nest against adult parasites. When the parasite has successfully parasitized a host nest, some hosts are able to recognize and reject the […]

Is the communal roosting behaviour of the Magpie (Pica pica) wind dependent? An example from an isolated population in W Poland

Corvidae, Passeriformes

Magpie (Pica pica) Science Article 5 abstract The Magpie is a residential non-migratorybird (Goodwin, 1986; Birkhead, 1991).Each pair of birds controls its own territoryall the year around. However, in winter thismonogamous bird sleeps in communal roosts.Birkhead (1991) discussed some of the mainideas, which may explain this behaviour. Pawel CZECHOWSKI, Leszek JERZAK, Piotr ZDUNIAK and Marcin […]

JUVENILE GRAY JAY PREYS UPON MAGNOLIA WARBLER

Parulidae, Passeriformes

Magnolia Warbler (Dendroica magnolia) Science Article 1 abstract A juvenile Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) was observed to capture, kill, and eata healthy juvenile Magnolia Warbler (Dendroica magnolia), demonstrating that Gray Jaysdepredate free-flying birds in addition to nestlings and dead adults. Predation of birds, which was manifested in a recently independent bird, may be a regular […]

Maternal effects on offspring Igs and egg size in relationto natural and experimentally improved food supply

Corvidae, Passeriformes

Magpie (Pica pica) Science Article 8 abstract Maternal effects have been suggested to function as a mechanism for transgenerational plasticity,in which the environment experienced by the mother is translated into the phenotype of the offspring.In birds and other oviparous vertebrates where early development is within the egg, mothersmay be able to improve the viability prospects […]