Foraging behaviour of Nuthatches (Sitta europaea) in relation to the presence of mates and mixed flocks

Authors
Citation
E. Matthysen, Foraging behaviour of Nuthatches (Sitta europaea) in relation to the presence of mates and mixed flocks, J ORNITHOL, 140(4), 1999, pp. 443-451
Citations number
49
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Animal Sciences
Journal title
JOURNAL FUR ORNITHOLOGIE
ISSN journal
0021-8375 → ACNP
Volume
140
Issue
4
Year of publication
1999
Pages
443 - 451
Database
ISI
SICI code
0021-8375(199910)140:4<443:FBON(E>2.0.ZU;2-B
Abstract
Nuthatches (Sitta europaea) usually forage in pairs outside the breeding se ason. I investigated whether foraging site selection in winter (tree specie s, height, substrate size) differed between sexes and whether this differen ce was related to the presence of mixed-species flocks. Foraging sites of p air members foraging together were highly correlated. In the rare cases whe n each used different tree species, males foraged significantly more often on the preferred oak trees than females. Males foraged significantly lower than females in some territories, but not in others. The reasons for this s ignificant Variation between pairs remains unexplained. Males also foraged lower than females in the company of mixed flocks. These differences are pr obably better explained as avoidance of the dominant male by the subordinat e female, rather than specialization in resource use to avoid competition.