The influence of parent body colouration and nesting habitat on bird nest predation. Issue 1 (2nd January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pestana, Gabrielle Cristina; Mateus-Barros, Erick; Guillermo-Ferreira, Rhainer
• Is Part Of: Bird study. Volume 67:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 29
• Page End: 34
• Publication Date: 2020-01-02
• Subjects: Birds -- Ecology -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Birds -- Conservation -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Birds -- Ecology -- Periodicals; Birds -- Conservation -- Periodicals; Birds -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Birds -- Geographical distribution -- Periodicals; Birds -- Counting -- Periodicals; 598.170941
• DOI: 10.1080/00063657.2020.1733486
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0006-3657

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Capsule: Parent body colouration and nesting habitat may influence nest predation risk and, therefore, influence parental decisions on offspring care. Aims: To investigate the adaptiveness of bird colouration under two different habitat and light conditions. Methods: We used painted polyurethane dummies to simulate parental presence near nests, where some dummies were red, and others were cryptic brown. We placed artificial nests on trees in open and forested areas, along with two quail eggs and parental dummies. Results: The results showed major predation on nests of the open area, however, we found no significant effect of parent colour on nest predation. Conclusion: We suggest that the costs involved with nest site selection may overcome the costs of colouration in species that occur in these environments.