Duponts Lark (Chersophilus duponti) Science Article 3 abstract A total of 32 birds were radiotagged (22 males, 4 females and 6 juveniles) and monitored nearly daily from April 1st to September 1st. The following variables were measured (1) home ranges using the Minimum Convex Poligon, MCP, (2) core areas using the kernel 80 % density […]
Two new calls from the Dupont’s Lark Chersophilus duponti and imitations by other alaudids: ecological and monitoring implications
Duponts Lark (Chersophilus duponti) Science Article 4 abstract The Dupont’s Lark Chersophilus duponti isone of the rarest Palearctic passerines, whosedistribution is confined in Europe to the remainingsteppe plateaux and lowlands of the Iberianpeninsula (Cramp, 1998). As a consequenceof recent data that revealed that Spanishpopulations are much smaller than previouslyestimated, the species is currently considered
Competition for male reproductive investmentelevates testosterone levels in female dunnocks,Prunella modularis
Dunnock (Prunella modularis) Science Article 4 abstract In many songbirds, females occasionally sing in contexts of high female-female competition. Testosteronemay be involved in the activation of song, because testosterone implants elicit female song in many specieswith rare female song. A possible mechanism for the hormonal control of female song is provided by thechallenge hypothesis, which […]
The wintering of migrant Dunnocks Prunellamodularis in two Mediterranean habitats after fire
Dunnock (Prunella modularis) Science Article 5 abstract Migrant Dunnocks Prunella modularis are common winter visitors to the Mediterranean area. In a burnt forest, Dunnocks were present from October to April. PERE PONS, Bird Study (2001) 48, 68-75 Download article download full text (pdf)
Song switching in monandrous and polyandrous dunnocks, Prunella modularis
Dunnock (Prunella modularis) Science Article 3 abstract The dunnock song repertoire comprises multiple song types, and during bouts of singingmales repeat a song type several times before switching. Several hypotheses suggest that the rate atwhich males switch song types may function in male-male aggression, mate attraction, or both.Dunnocks switched song types 10 times faster when […]
Female dunnocks use vocalizations to compete for males
Dunnock (Prunella modularis) Science Article 2 abstract In songbirds, males are usually the more competitive sex and they use vocalizations to attractfemales and to compete with rival males. When levels of female-female competition were experimentallyincreased in a population of dunnocks, Prunella modularis, females were predicted to increase theirvocalization rates and to use vocalizations in comparable […]
Territoriality and song as flexible paternityguards in dunnocks and alpine accentors
Dunnock (Prunella modularis) Science Article 6 abstract I compare paternity defense strategies in the variable mating systems of alpine accentors Prunella collaris and dunnocks P. modularis. I show that in dunnocks breeding territoriality functions exclusively for mate defense Naomi E. Langmore, Behavioral Ecology Vol. 7 No. 2: 183-188 Download article download full text (pdf)
Female control of copulations to maximize male help: a comparison ofpolygynandrous alpine accentors, Prunella collaris, and dunnocks,P. modularis
Dunnock (Prunella modularis) Science Article 1 abstract Alpine accentors and dunnocks bred in polygynandrous groups in which two or moreunrelated males shared two or more females. In both species, a female solicited actively to both alphaand subordinate males whereas an alpha male attempted to guard the female to monopolize paternity.Females combated the restrictions imposed by […]
Incidental Kill of Dunlin and Killdeer by Strychnine
Dunlin (Calidris alpina) Science Article 10 abstract Strychnine poisoning of 36 dunlin (Calidris alpina) and two killdeer (Charadriusvociferus) in Yolo County, California (USA) was documented from 1 1 to 17 December 1990. Birds were found dead on a field containing treated wheat seeds (337 zg strychnine/g seed) in postures consistent with the known physiopathology of […]
Hypervariable-control-region sequences reveal global population structuring in a long-distance migrant shorebird, the Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
Dunlin (Calidris alpina) Science Article 1 abstract Hypervariable segments of the control region of mtDNA as well as part of the cytochrome b gene of Dunlins were amplifed with PCR and sequenced directly. The 910 base pairs (bp) obtained for each of 73 individuals complete another of the few sequencing studies that examine the global […]