1. Parental Care and Nesting Behavior of the Wood Thrush ( Hylocichla mustelina) Lisamarie Dittmar Advisor: Dr. Kim Derrickson, Biology
2. Wood Thrush 19-21 cm Pink legs Black eye with white ring White breast with black spots 40-50 g Olive-brown back, wing, and tail feathers, rusty head
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7. Life Cycle Migration & Arrival at Breeding grounds Departure from Breeding Grounds and Migration Wintering Incubation Hatching Mating Egg laying Brooding Fledging
Talk about appearance, size, weight 19 – 21 cm 40 – 50 g
Link to song Quote about songs
High investment from parent
Important to find a good mate! Male and female differ in potential for reproductive success Male: higher potential, but paternity not guaranteed Female: lower potential (output limited), but maternity is almost certain
Concealment/placement Solid nest
Length of inc breaks During breaks, the male may come to the nest and guard which can potentially reduce the chance of parasitism and predation
Have to keep providing food to young Cowbirds outcompete
Parents may continue to feed into next nest attempt
Behavioral Ecology of Intermittant Locomotion
Nest sanitation=fecal sac
Define “cooperate well” Male may withhold care Female investment
2008
It would make sense for males to protect the nest
time
Sit >10 m from nest
Certainty of paternity Will the male give less care if it is more likely that the young are not his? Potter’s trap?