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1 March 2018 An observation of parental infanticide in Dickcissels (Spiza americana): video evidence and potential mechanisms
Jaime J. Coon, Scott B. Nelson, Amy C. West, Iris A. Bradley, James R. Miller
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Abstract

Brood reduction by parents via infanticide is considered rare in passerine birds; however, this behavior may be underreported because of the difficulties observing behaviors at the nest and because researchers tend to attribute partial nestling loss to other causes. Here, we report a confirmed incidence of parental infanticide by Dickcissels (Spiza americana). While video-recording parental behavior, we documented a 4-day-old nestling being removed by a female Dickcissel. This bird was also observed brooding and feeding, so this event was likely a parental infanticide. We subsequently examined monitoring data from 162 hatched Dickcissel nests across 2 breeding seasons to identify instances of unexplained partial nestling loss, which could potentially be attributable to infanticide. Our data indicate that 9.1–12.7% of hatched nests experienced these events. Infanticide by genetic parents could (1) benefit survival of remaining brood mates by reducing food requirements, disease, or predation risk; (2) represent responses to cuckoldry or intraspecific brood parasitism; (3) represent cases of mistaken chick identity; or (4) be triggered by unusual stressors. We recommend that ecologists monitoring bird nests consider infanticide as a possible explanation for partial nestling loss. Received 3 November 2016. Accepted 27 November 2017.

Jaime J. Coon, Scott B. Nelson, Amy C. West, Iris A. Bradley, and James R. Miller "An observation of parental infanticide in Dickcissels (Spiza americana): video evidence and potential mechanisms," The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 130(1), 341-345, (1 March 2018). https://doi.org/10.1676/1559-4491-130.1.341
Published: 1 March 2018
KEYWORDS
brood reduction
Dickcissel
infanticide
nest monitoring
partial nestling loss
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