yellow warbler (dendroica petechia) breeding biology and parasitism by the shiny cowbird (molothrus bonariensis) inboqueron, puerto rico

Shiny Cowbird

Shiny Cowbird pair

Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) Science Article 6

abstract

Aspects of the breeding biology of the Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) and ShinyCowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) parasitism were studied in Boqueron, Puerto Rico from 2001 to 2002.Fifty-seven percent (n = 12) of warbler nests were parasitized. Survival of parasitized nests was lowerthan non-parasitized nests. Thirty-four percent of nests (n = 21) survived until fledging of cowbird or warbler chicks, with predation the major cause of nest failure (88%). Nineteen nests fledged warbleryoung and two nests fledged cowbird young, but no nest fledged warbler and cowbird youngsimultaneously. The Yellow Warbler presented three responses toward parasitism: acceptance andincubation, egg burial, and nest desertion. No warbler young fledged from nests that accepted parasitism.Nests with buried cowbird eggs fledged an average of 2.00

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