La Tour du Valat

Institut de recherche pour la conservation des zones humides méditerranéennes

Titre :	Killing of host nestlings by the Brown-headed Cowbird
Auteurs :	P. F. Elliott, Auteur
Type de document :	Article
Dans :	Journal of Field Ornithology (70(1) WIN 1999)
Article en page(s) :	55-57
Langues:	Anglais
Résumé :	An adult female Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus alter) was filmed as she killed all six nestlings of a Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora pinus). Although several previous accounts provided strong indirect evidence of cowbird attacks on host nestlings, this is the first unequivocal evidence of such behavior to be reported. This behavior may enhance cowbird reproductive success by facilitating host renesting, thus providing an additional opportunity for nest parasitism. If so, this behavior has parallels to the infanticide documented for a number of species of mammals and birds.

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