In late fall and early winter > 2,000 Common Coots (Fulica atra) may gather on the small, shallow Lake Krankesjön in southern Sweden, where they dive for submerged plants. Casual observations indicated that intraspecific kleptoparasitism was common throughout these flocks. Kleptoparasitic attacks mostly occurred shortly after a Common Coot surfaced with food and before it had ingested much of it. Attacked birds rarely resisted, and kleptoparasitic individuals had a success rate of 85% (n = 290), including cases when the victim managed to keep part of the food. Kleptoparasitic Common Coots used a mixed strategy, alternating between parasitism and self-feeding.
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1 June 2013
Intraspecific Kleptoparasitism in the Common Coot (Fulica atra)
Hans Källander
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Waterbirds
Vol. 36 • No. 2
June 2013
Vol. 36 • No. 2
June 2013
Common Coot
Fulica atra
intraspecific kleptoparasitism
success rate