Filial Cannibalism at a House Finch Nest

William M. Gilbert; Paul M. Nolan; Andrew M. Stoehr; Geoffrey E. Hill

doi:10.1676/04-003.1

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William M. Gilbert,^*,** Paul M. Nolan,^***,**** Andrew M. Stoehr,^***,***** Geoffrey E. Hill^***

^*3745 Highland Rd., Lafayette, CA 94549, USA
^**Corresponding author; wmglbrt@aol.com
^***Dept. of Biological Sciences, Auburn Univ., Auburn, AL 36849, USA
^****Current address: Dept. of Biology, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
^*****Current address: Dept. of Biology, Univ. of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA

Abstract

We report on a female House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) eating one of her own eggs from a clutch of six on the 3rd day of incubation. This observation is a confirmed case of filial cannibalism in the egg stage. The reason for this behavior is unknown, but we suggest and discuss three possibilities: (1) an idiosyncratic response to human disturbance, (2) removal of a damaged egg from the nest, and (3) facultative brood reduction in the egg stage.

Citation Download Citation

William M. Gilbert, Paul M. Nolan, Andrew M. Stoehr, and Geoffrey E. Hill "Filial Cannibalism at a House Finch Nest," The Wilson Bulletin 117(4), 413-415, (1 December 2005). https://doi.org/10.1676/04-003.1

Received: 12 January 2004; Accepted: 1 July 2005; Published: 1 December 2005

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