The Little Bittern is one of the least studied heron species in its breeding range. The nominate, Palaearctic race Ixobrychus m. minutus has been generally assumed to be single-brooded only, yet detailed studies of its breeding biology and mating system are lacking. The present paper provides the first observational evidence of successful double-brooding in the nominate race of the Little Bittern and gives the first record of time-overlapping double-brooding in the species. Potential determinants of this breeding strategy as well as the frequency of its occurrence are discussed.
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1 October 2016
A Puzzling Case of Successful Double-Brooding in the Little Bittern Ixobrychus m. minutus
Maciej Filipiuk,
Marek Kucharczyk
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Ardea
Vol. 104 • No. 2
October 2016
Vol. 104 • No. 2
October 2016
brood-overlap
double-brooding
Little Bittern
Poland
polyandry