Social dominance and energy reserves in wintering woodland birds

Article Abstract:

Research using three woodland species, White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis), Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) and Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor), supports the view that dominant birds carry lower energy reserves. In all three species, dominants seem to reduce their relative body mass as they have priority of access to food and higher predictability of foraging success, thus reducing the danger of starvation. It is also possible that larger birds may be able to afford to carry less fat reserves than smaller ones, regardless of their dominance status.

Physiological aspects, Forest birds

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Vigilance in the tufted titmouse varies independently with air temperature and conspecific group size

Article Abstract:

Vigilance is a balancing act between foraging and predation risk in birds. A bird makes up by reducing vigilance time when it has to enhance its food intake rate in lower air temperatures. Group size in yellow-eyed Juncos is negatively associated with air temperature and the vigilance of these birds is negatively associated with their group size. Air temperature appears to create fluctuation in vigilance through a change in group size though this is not definite because group size and air temperature covaried.

Behavior, Forage plants, Forage

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Factors affecting nutritional condition of fledgling Florida Scrub-Jays: a ptilochronology approach

Article Abstract:

Ptilochronology was used to investigate whether scrub-jay fledglings in various territories differed in nutritional characteristics because differential nutritional condition may be the cause of territory-specific mortality. Findings indicate that nutritional is an important contributor to the survival of young Florida Scrub-Jays and that relatively subtle differences in territory composition may have an effect on overall reproductive success.

Food and nutrition, Jays

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