Removal of host nestlings and fecal sacs by Brown-headed Cowbirds. (Short Communications).(Statistical Data Included): An article from: Wilson Bulletin

This digital document is an article from Wilson Bulletin, published by Wilson Ornithological Society on December 1, 2001. The length of the article is 2742 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the author: Using video to study nest predation at Fort Hood, Texas, we documented female Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) removing nestlings at 7 of 133 (5.3%) Black-capped Vireo (Vireo atricapillus) and 1 of 11 (9.1%) Golden-cheeked Warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia) nests. It has been suggested that female cowbirds depredate nests they find late in the host's nesting cycle to stimulate renesting by hosts, thereby enhancing future opportunities for parasitism. At Fort Hood, the function of nestling removal by cowbirds is unclear, because cowbirds caused nest failure during only two of eight visits. At three nests, we also observed cowbirds ingesting or removing fecal sacs produced by host nestlings. Fecal sac ingestion by cowbirds, though apparently infrequent, may provide a nutritional benefit.

Citation Details
Title: Removal of host nestlings and fecal sacs by Brown-headed Cowbirds. (Short Communications).(Statistical Data Included)
Author: Mike M. Stake
Publication:Wilson Bulletin (Refereed)
Date: December 1, 2001
Publisher: Wilson Ornithological Society
Volume: 113 Issue: 4 Page: 456(4)

Article Type: Statistical Data Included

Distributed by Thomson Gale