Tufted Titmice (Baeolophus bicolor) rear a mixed brood to apparent fledging in northeastern Arkansas
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
WILSON JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY
Abstract
Interspecific nest usurpation, a relatively common nesting strategy, is the act of one bird species taking over the nesting site of another species. Although used by secondary cavity-nesters, nest usurpation has never been reported for the Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor). In this paper, we document a mixed brood successfully reared by Tufted Titmice alter usurpation of an Eastern Bluebird (Stalin sinks) nest in northeastern Arkansas during the 7019 breeding season. We monitored the focal nest box every 3-4 d from the first sign of nest building on 23 March 2019 until chick fledging by 12 May 2019. The Tufted Titmice took over the nest at the time the Eastern Bluebird had laid its, fourth egg in the nest. By the end of the nesting period, the Tufted Titmice edged 2 of their own chicks and 3 Eastern Bluebird chicks. Such successful rearing of non-conspecific nestlings is rare and we discuss factors that may have allowed it.
First Page
197
DOI
10.1676/1559-4491-132.1.197
Publication Date
2020
Recommended Citation
Moseley, Shelby C.; Harrod, Sara E.; and Rolland, Virginie, "Tufted Titmice (Baeolophus bicolor) rear a mixed brood to apparent fledging in northeastern Arkansas" (2020). Faculty Publications. 37.
https://arch.astate.edu/scm-biofac/37
