Great Tits Build Shallower Nests than Blue Tits

Lambrechts, Marcel M.; Demeyrier, Virginie; Fargevieille, Amélie; Giovannini, Pablo; Lucas, Annick; Marrot, Pascal; Midamegbe, Afiwa; Perret, Philippe; Charmantier, Anne; Doutrelant, Claire; Grégoire, Arnaud

doi:10.3184/175815514x14162394225987

Cited by 19 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…This concurs with a number of previous nest box studies, though not all (Lambrechts et al 2016b), and may be linked to adult quality (Alvarez et al 2013;Gladalski et al 2016;Lambrechts et al 2016a). Such differences in turn may be linked to differences in nesting behaviour and reproductive output between these species, as Blue Tits typically build proportionally heavier nests and have a higher average reproductive output per breeding attempt than the larger Great Tit (Lambrechts et al 2014(Lambrechts et al , 2015Gladalski et al 2016).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

Use of anthropogenic material affects bird nest arthropod community structure: influence of urbanisation, and consequences for ectoparasites and fledging success

et al. 2017

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Nests are a critically important factor in determining the breeding success of many species of birds. Nevertheless, we have surprisingly little understanding of how the local environment helps determine the materials used in nest construction, how this differs among related species using similar nest sites, or if materials used directly or indirectly influence the numbers of offspring successfully reared. We also have little understanding of any potential links between nest construction and the assemblage of invertebrates which inhabit nests, in particular, ectoparasites. We addressed these questions by monitoring the success rates of Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus and Great Tits Parus major, using nest boxes in rural, urban greenspace and urban garden settings. We collected used nests, identified the arthropods present, and measured the proportions of highly processed anthropogenic materials used in nest construction. Twenty-five percent of Great Tit nest materials were of anthropogenic origin and this was consistent across habitats, while Blue Tits used little (1-2%) anthropogenic material except in gardens (*16%), suggesting that Great Tits preferentially sought out these materials. In fledged nests, an increasing use of anthropogenic material was associated with a lower general arthropod diversity and ectoparasite predator abundance (Blue Tits only), but higher levels of Siphonaptera (fleas).Higher arthropod diversity was associated with lower flea numbers, suggesting that increased diversity played a role in limiting flea numbers. No direct link was found between breeding success and either anthropogenic material usage or arthropod diversity and abundance. However, breeding success declined with increasing urbanisation in both species and increased with nest weight in Blue Tits. The interplay between urbanisation and bird ecology is complex; our work shows that subtle anthropogenic influences may have indirect and unexpected consequences for urban birds.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

Use of anthropogenic material affects bird nest arthropod community structure: influence of urbanisation, and consequences for ectoparasites and fledging success

et al. 2017

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“…If the larger Great Tits would require a longer safety distance than the smaller Blue Tits (C. c. ogliastrae) (cf. Lambrechts et al, 2014), we expected thinner nests in Great Tits than in Blue Tits. If the individuals with the earlier and larger clutches would require, or be able to produce, thicker nests (cf.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…By contrast, three published field investigations from distinct climate regions show shallower, and smaller, nests in the larger Great Tits than in the smaller Blue Tits (Smith et al, 2013;Kaliński et al, 2014;. Lambrechts et al (2014) suggested that the two species might perceive and experience external abiotic or biotic factors differently, which is subsequently reflected in how the nest is built. The height (or depth) and size of fresh nests is also adjusted to the depth of the chamber (Mazgajski and Rykowska, 2008;Smith et al, 2013;Kaliński et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…However, nest builders from different species did not necessarily respond in the same way to the same external environments. For instance, woodpeckers and secondary-cavity nesting passerines have different nesting habits within woodpecker-made tree cavities perhaps related to the fact that species varying in body size perceive climate factors or predation risks differently (Slagsvold, 1989b;Hansell 2000;Deeming, 2013;Heenan and Seymour, 2013;Lambrechts et al, 2014;Mainwaring et al, 2014;Møller et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One functional cause for such a relationship is that more and heavier nest occupants may cause the nest to deteriorate more rapidly. Thus, species with larger bodies, or heavier broods, are expected to build bigger and thicker nests to maintain a minimum level of nest comfort throughout the whole nestling stage (Slagsvold, 1989a;Møller et al, 2014, but see Deeming 2013Lambrechts et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Great Tits Build Shallower Nests than Blue Tits in an Insular Oak-Dominated Habitat Mosaic

Lambrechts

Blondel

Dubuc‐Messier

et al. 2015

Avian Biology Research

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Longitudinal multi-plot studies of nest architecture in non-domesticated birds are rare. Here we report the results of an 18-year multi-plot study that compared heights of fresh female-built nests in Corsican Great Tits (Parus major) and Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus ogliastrae). Boxes with relatively small nest-chambers were erected in a landscape with habitat patches that were either dominated by food-rich broad-leaved deciduous oaks (Quercus humilis) or food-poor evergreen oaks (Quercus ilex). Nest height tended to change with oak habitat type in a species-specific manner. Great Tits built shallower nests than Blue Tits supporting the published findings from other geographic regions (Poland, UK, southern mainland France). Potential impacts of local climate factors and risks related to nest predation on the species-specific expression of the size of nests are discussed.

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Consequences of experimental addition of fresh, aromatic plants into nests of blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) on the physiological condition of nestlings

Glądalski

Bańbura

Kaliński

et al. 2020

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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The blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) is one of a few known passerine birds that incorporate fresh fragments of aromatic plants in their nest during the nesting period. In this study, we experimentally tested whether aromatic plants in blue tit nests affect physiological condition of nestlings as indicated by hemoglobin and glucose in the blood. Nestlings in nests supplemented with fresh, aromatic plants had elevated blood hemoglobin, and therefore improved physiological condition, as compared with control nestlings. There was no difference between nestlings in two contrasting habitats (urban parkland and forest). Although mean levels of blood glucose did not differ between treatment and control nestlings, the blood of forest nestlings contained more glucose than the blood of parkland nestlings, which indicates poorer health for forest nestlings. In general, knowledge of the effects of incorporating fresh green, aromatic plant material into avian nests on physiological condition of nestlings is still fragmentary and more experimental studies are needed. Significance statement The blue tit is one of a few known passerine birds that incorporate fresh fragments of aromatic plants in their nest during the nesting period. Little is known about the impact of this material on nestling body condition, and there is a need to understand this behavior and its effects. We tested whether nestlings in nests supplemented with fresh, aromatic plants improved their physiological condition in comparison with control nestlings. The experiment showed that nestlings from supplemented nests improved their physiological condition by exhibiting elevated hemoglobin.

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Great Tits Build Shallower Nests than Blue Tits

Cited by 19 publications

References 31 publications

Use of anthropogenic material affects bird nest arthropod community structure: influence of urbanisation, and consequences for ectoparasites and fledging success

Use of anthropogenic material affects bird nest arthropod community structure: influence of urbanisation, and consequences for ectoparasites and fledging success

Great Tits Build Shallower Nests than Blue Tits in an Insular Oak-Dominated Habitat Mosaic

Consequences of experimental addition of fresh, aromatic plants into nests of blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) on the physiological condition of nestlings

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