Hissing calls improve survival in incubating female great tits (Parus major)

Krams, Indriķis; Vrublevska, Jolanta; Koosa, Kaarin; Krama, Tatjana; Mierauskas, Pranas; Rantala, Markus J.; Tilgar, Vallo

doi:10.1007/s10211-013-0163-3

Cited by 37 publications

(73 citation statements)

References 48 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Other research corroborates our findings. Krams et al (2014) showed that hissing female Great Tits had higher survival rates than silent ones and in the Białowieża Forest, the Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis and Pied Flycatcher F. hypoleuca , which never hiss in the nest, usually have much higher breeding losses than tits (Walankiewicz 2002a; Wesołowski 2002; Czeszczewik 2004; Wesołowski and Rowiński 2012; Maziarz et al 2016). Our results suggest that the behaviour of tits can change the exploration activity of the Yellow-necked Mouse, which may increase the breeding success of tits relative to the silent flycatchers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some evidence already supporting this hypothesis comes from Krams et al (2014) who found that tit hissing calls prevented the attacks of feral cats; however, they did not include a negative control treatment in their experiments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such behaviour enhances survival and directly affects fitness. Some bird species (Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix , Parids, Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia ) use acoustic signals, which may effectively change the behaviour of predators (Cox 1930; Sibley 1955; Rowe et al 1986; Krams et al 2014). This type of reaction in the presence of an intruder is especially prevalent in tits (Paridae).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite almost a century of research, there is little evidence that hissing calls actually affect the behaviour of predators (Jourdain 1929; Apel and Weise 1986). Krams et al (2014) showed that hissing Great Tit Parus major females were killed less often than silent females and suggested that hissing calls could deter some predator attacks, potentially increasing the survival rates of nesting birds or their offspring.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Silence is not golden: the hissing calls of tits affect the behaviour of a nest predator

Zub

Czeszczewik

Ruczyński

et al. 2017

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Nest predation is one of the most important mortality factors of birds. Field observations showed that tits (Paridae) produce hissing calls and, usually, have lower breeding losses than nesting Ficedula flycatchers, which do not make such calls. We hypothesise that differences in fledgling success can be directly attributed to the vocal reaction of tits. We tested experimentally whether the hissing calls can affect the behaviour of a potential predator, analysing the response of the Yellow-necked Mouse Apodemus flavicollis to playback of calls of three Parid species. The number of visits by mice to two types of cavities (with playback and control) was not significantly different, but the average time spent by mice in cavities with playback (3.9 s) was significantly shorter than in cavities without playback (26.3 s). This suggests that hissing behaviour of tits significantly changes the exploration activity of predators, which may ultimately increase the breeding success of this group of birds relative to the flycatchers.Significance statementNest predation is one of the most important mortality factors of small land birds, but some anti-predatory mechanisms are still poorly recognised. Numerous studies demonstrate that incubating tits make hissing sounds, when a predator is near, but despite almost a century of research, there is little evidence these calls indeed affect behaviour of predators. By using a simple laboratory experiment, we demonstrated that the hissing acoustic signals used by tits may change the behaviour of yellow-necked mice, which are an important predator of cavity-nesting birds in temperate forests. Intruding mice withdrew from cavities where hissing sounds were played back. Our results suggest that the hissing behaviour of tits can change the exploration activity of potential predators and may increase breeding success of this group of birds relative to the flycatchers, which stay silent when their nest is threatened.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Silence is not golden: the hissing calls of tits affect the behaviour of a nest predator

Zub

Czeszczewik

Ruczyński

et al. 2017

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…As well as destroying the nests, predators constituted a serious threat for adult Great Tits by killing them in nests during the incubation and early nestling stage (adult remains, probably mostly females, were recorded in 23 % of depredated nests). As an active nest defence, such as the 'hissing' display, aimed at threatening a predator, given by birds disturbed within the cavity (Glutz von Blotzheim and Bauer 1993; Krams et al 2014), can be used only as a last means of defence (Edmunds 1974), selection of a safe nest location (made mainly by females; Perrins 1979) could be primary in predator avoidance. Therefore, in order to reproduce successfully, the birds should first focus on finding a secure cavity for nesting.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Breeding success of the Great Tit Parus major in relation to attributes of natural nest cavities in a primeval forest

Maziarz

Wesołowski²,

Hebda

et al. 2015

J Ornithol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

An overlap in attributes of nest cavities used by Great Tit Parus major across Eurasia suggests similar nest site preferences within the geographical range, although the drivers of these preferences are unclear. To determine whether preferred cavities provide conditions enhancing successful reproduction, we investigated the breeding performance of Great Tits in relation to tree cavity characteristics using data collected during 2008-2011 in primeval conditions (Białowie_ za National Park, Poland). Here, tree cavities are diverse and superabundant but nesting birds are at risk from a variety of predators. According to expectations, nest losses were high (60 % of Great Tit nests failed), mostly due to predation (69 % of nest failures). The risk of nest failure varied with nest cavity attributes. Compared to successful nests, failures were situated higher above the ground and placed closer to the cavity entrance. Very deep cavities with narrow entrances and strong livings walls provided effective protection against larger predators (e.g., martens, woodpeckers), unable to enter the cavity or pull out the contents. Yet, such holes were no barrier for the smallest predators (e.g., Forest Dormouse Dryomys nitedula), which were able to enter any Great Tit nest cavity and destroyed most of the nests. Avoiding small predators would give a selective advantage to the birds, but this seems hardly possible to achieve. We conclude that tree cavities preferred by the tits show a combination of properties which are a compromise for avoiding predation (the strongest selective pressure) and providing the minimum requirements (sufficient nest illumination, microclimate, protection against nest soaking) for development and growth of young.

show abstract

First description of injury feigning behavior in Godlewski's buntings

Liu

Zhang

Wan

et al. 2023

Ecology and Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Nest defense behavior helps ground‐nesting birds improve their breeding success. Among such behaviors, injury feigning behavior (IFB) is one of the better ways to attract predators and protect birds' nests. IFB is generally associated with shorebirds in general and plovers in particular, however, through field observation, it has been found this behavior is also exhibited in bunting species when they facing the risk of predation. We attempt to explore the detailed description of this behavior in buntings and the factors that affect this behavior. Based on video‐recordings of the nest defense behavior by the ground‐nesting bird Godlewski's bunting (Emberiza godlewskii) against nest invaders, we explored the characteristic of IFB and differences in nest defense behavior during their brooding seasons. The results showed that female buntings had a distinct IFB: the wings of buntings incited within 60°–90° of the body, ran and called rapidly, pretending to be injured and unable to fly. The nest stage had significant and extremely significant effects on IFB and movement distance (MD), respectively. And IFB was more likely to occur in brooding (34.62%) than incubation period (16.42%). This indicates that there are significant differences in the IFB of buntings at different breeding stages.

show abstract

Hissing calls improve survival in incubating female great tits (Parus major)

Cited by 37 publications

References 48 publications

Silence is not golden: the hissing calls of tits affect the behaviour of a nest predator

Silence is not golden: the hissing calls of tits affect the behaviour of a nest predator

Breeding success of the Great Tit Parus major in relation to attributes of natural nest cavities in a primeval forest

First description of injury feigning behavior in Godlewski's buntings

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About