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Home » Dominance and anti-predator behaviour of Great Tits Parus major: a field study
Dominance and anti-predator behaviour of Great Tits Parus major: a field study
Publication Type: | Journal Article |
Year of Publication: | 1985 |
Authors: | DE LAET, JENNYF |
Journal: | Ibis |
Volume: | 127 |
Issue: | 3 |
Date Published: | 1985 |
ISBN Number: | 1474-919X |
Keywords: | Accipiter, Accipiter nisus, Accipitridae, Cyanistes, Cyanistes caeruleus, Nisus, Paridae, Parus, Parus caeruleus, Parus major |
Abstract: | During the winter of 1981–82 the hierarchical system of free-living Great Tits Parus major that visited a feeder supplied with sunflower seeds was studied in relation to the appearance of a predator. Without a predator, dominant birds were more successful in feeding and had to wait less before feeding. A significant negative correlation was found between dominance and the sequence of initial arrival. After a Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus had flown over the feeder, a correlation was found between the birds' dominance and the sequence of their return to the feeder. This field study supports the results of an analogous investigation on anti-predator behaviour and dominance in captive Blue Tits P. caeruleus. |
URL: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1474-919X.1985.tb05079.x |
Short Title: | Ibis |
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Dimitris Koureas,
Laurence Livermore,
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