Nestling tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) alter begging behaviour in response to odour of familiar adults, but not their nests. (12th February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Griebel, Ilsa A.; Dawson, Russell D.
• Editors: Koenig, Walter
• Is Part Of: Ethology. Volume 126:Number 6(2020)
• Page Start: 630
• Page End: 636
• Publication Date: 2020-02-12
• Subjects: avian -- intraspecific signalling -- olfaction -- passerine; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; 591.5
• DOI: 10.1111/eth.13015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0179-1613

Abstract

Abstract: Communication using chemical cues is important for many taxa, including birds, but the use of olfaction for intraspecific communication has been investigated only recently in passerines and is understudied in nestlings. To address this knowledge gap, we explored whether nestling tree swallows ( Tachycineta bicolor ) would recognize and respond to chemical cues of conspecifics, specifically testing begging responses to familiar and unfamiliar nest and adult odours. For the nest odour experiment, nests were treated with either orange essential oil or distilled water to create scented and unscented (control) odour environments, respectively. For the adult odour experiment, adults attending the nestlings were considered "familiar adults" and adults attending a different brood in the population were considered "unfamiliar adults." We found that begging responses of nestlings did not differ in response to orange oil odour or water, but nestlings begged significantly longer and more intensely in response to odours of a familiar than an unfamiliar adult, regardless of adult sex. This provides evidence that tree swallows use chemical cues to alter their behaviour and opens up many exciting avenues of future research. Abstract : The begging response of one‐day‐old nestling tree swallows did not differ in response to orange oil odour or water, regardless of whether the nest they were reared in was treated with orange essential oil or distilled water. In contrast, two‐day‐old nestlings begged significantly longer and more intensely in response to odours of a familiar than an unfamiliar adult, regardless of adult sex. Our study provides evidence that tree swallows use chemical cues to alter their behaviour and opens up many exciting avenues of future research.