La Tour du Valat

Institut de recherche pour la conservation des zones humides méditerranéennes

Titre :	Mortal combat: an apparent intraspecific killing by a male Black-capped Chickadee
Auteurs :	David Hof, Auteur ; Nicole Hazlett, Auteur
Type de document :	Article
Dans :	Journal of Field Ornithology (83(3) SEP 2012)
Article en page(s) :	290-294
Langues:	Anglais
Résumé :	Much theory about communication in aggressive contexts hinges on the assumption that injury or death is a potential outcome of fighting. However, published accounts of intraspecific killings during competitive interactions between songbirds are extremely rare. Here, we report an observation where one adult Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) appeared to kill another. The two opponents were high-ranking males that had been in the same winter flock, consistent with the prediction that mortal combat is most likely between evenly matched individuals. The interaction occurred when birds were defending territories and had begun nesting activities. A female that had previously been paired with the victim was also present during the interaction. Our observations suggest that the male chickadees were fighting for access to territorial resources or to a female, and indicate that aggressive interactions between songbirds can be costly and potentially fatal.

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