Quail (Coturnix coturnix) Science Article 2 abstract Males of the Old World quail genus Coturnix are unique among birds in possessing a well-developed proctodeal gland. The gland and associated cloacal musculature are sexually dimorphic, androgen dependent, and produce a foamy substance that is introduced into the female along with semen during copulation, suggesting that the […]
A record of Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus from medieval Spain
Pygmy Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmaeus) Science Article 1 abstract The discovery of four bones of a Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus during an excavation of a fortress in Central Spain indicates the presence of this species in the area during the Late Middle Ages. The probability that this bird could be a vagrant is very small. The […]
Breeding systems related to incubation investment in the Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio porphyrio (L.).
Purple Swamp-hen (Porphyrio porphyrio) Science Article 1 abstract I recorded, during the incubation period, the day shift activity of purple swamphens Porphyrio porphyrio porphyrio breeding in an artificial wetland of southeastern Spain. Three breeding systems were found: pairs, trios and solitary birds, which confirms that the subspecies porphyrio may also have communal breeding. However, the […]
How do Purple Sandpipers Calidris maritima survive the winter north of the Arctic circle?
Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima) Science Article 1 abstract Winter north of the Arctic circle in northern Norway is colder, windier and there is less solar radiation than in eastern Scotland, at a latitude 13degree further south. We predicted from equations derived from heated taxidermic mounts that the maintenance metabolism (Basal Metabolic Rate plus extra costs […]
Population structure and origins of Purple Sandpipers Calidris maritima in north Norway during winter
Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima) Science Article 2 abstract Wintering Purple Sandpipers Calidris maritima were captured at Varangerfjorden, Finnmark, in March 1992, and compared with samples from Troms county in November 1988 to describe the population structure in north Norway in terms of age and sex classes, and to determine the origins of these wintering birds. […]
Fluctuation in population size and colony dynamics in the Purple Heron Ardea purpurea in Mediterranean France
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) Science Article 2 abstract The breeding population of Purple Heron Ardea purpurea in Mediterranean France showed a general decline since 1982 with a further reduction in number of breeding pairs in the early 1990s that has been reversed since 1995. In addition to this general decline, the population showed large annual […]
Fish profitability for breeding Purple Herons
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) Science Article 1 abstract […]. During the breeding season, the Purple Heron Ardea purpurea is a central place forager and periodically visits the nest with the food necessary for nestling development. The tradeoffs between the costs (mostly energy used in travelling and foraging) and benefits (food) of foraging, should allow the […]
Pre-nesting activity of the Purple Gallinule near Savannah, Georgia
Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica) Science Article 1 abstract Observations on the pre-nesting activity of the Purple Gallinule (Porphyrula martinica)were made by me at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, Jasper County, South Carolina from 9 to 16 April 1960, 12 to 23 April 1961, and 28 to 30 April 1963. BROOKE MEANLY, Auk(80):545-546 Download article download […]
Leucocytozoon lovati Infections in Wild Rock Ptarmigan(Lagopus mutus) in Japan
Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) Science Article 5 abstract Leucocytozoon lovati infections were detected in free-flying rock ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus), an endangered species that inhabits alpine areas in Japan. Eight of nine adult birds tested positive for L. lovati infection. For comparison, two captive rock ptarmiganshatched in a breeding facility at the foot of the mountains were […]
Can parasites synchronise the population fluctuations of sympatric tetraonids? Examining some minimum conditions
Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) Science Article 9 abstract Sympatric populations of tetraonid birds tend to fluctuate in synchrony, at least onlocal scales. If shared parasites among sympatric populations of different tetraonidspecies are to operate as a local, synchronizing factor for population fluctuations atleast two conditions should be met Per R. Holmstad, Peter J. Hudson, Vigdis Vandvik […]