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Résumé :
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American Oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus) are typically described as monogamous breeding shorebirds. In 2024, I observed an extra-pair copulation by American Oystercatchers in Virginia, USA. The extra-pair copulation occurred between within-season nesting attempts, where a female traveled 1,700 m to copulate at an extra-pair male’s breeding territory. Across three field seasons of intensive monitoring of breeding activities, from 2022 to 2024, on two barrier islands in Virginia, this was the only extra-pair copulation observed, compared to 31 observed within-pair copulations. The extra-pair copulation was consistent with the female control hypothesis and the extra-territorial foray hypothesis. Potential adaptive functions behind the extra-pair copulation for the female may include fertility insurance, reduced inbreeding depression, or mate switching. Future studies might use GPS tracking to investigate the frequency, timing, and nature of extra-territorial foray behaviors.
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