Ornithology Student Outline Nests and Incubation

Ornithology Student Outline – Nests and Incubation

Nests and Incubation

Text: Manual of Ornithology, Proctor and Lynch

Pages 103 (brood patches)

Text: Ornithology, Gill – Chapter 16

Pages 375 - 400

1.Introduction

A.Functions of Nests

i.Protection

a.Inaccessibility

•Effect of Predation

•Cavity Dwellers

*Cliff Swallows

*Titmice and Chickadees

*Woodpeckers

*Kingfishers

b.Protection of Other Animals

•Piping Plovers

•Termitary

b.Covered

c.Chemically Protected

•European Starlings

•Common Eiders

c.Camouflaged

•Hummingbirds

•Plumage of Parents

ii.Other Protective Behaviors Associated with Nesting

a.Attack

b.Distraction Displays

c.Colonial

d.Build Islands

•Example: Horned Coots

B.Maintain Warmth

C.Egg Support

2.Nest Site

A.Nest Choice

B.Niche and Anatomical Limitations

•Woodpeckers

•Long-Toed Jacanas

C.Ecological limitations

•Royal Albatross

D.Other Selective Pressures on Nest Sites

•Phoebes

•Eastern Kingbird

•Peregrine Falcons

3.Nest Heights

A.Examples

SpeciesTotalLowestHighest

NestsNestNest

Northern Parula Warbler, Parula americana 71 1.5 16.5

Magnolia Warbler, Dendroica magnolia 33 0.3 4.2

Yellow-rumped Warbler, Dendroica coronata 44 1.8 13.2

Blackburnian Warbler, Dendroica fusca 7 13.2 23.2

American Redstart, Setophaga ruticilla 50 0.3 15.9

from Welty

B.Song Sparrows, Melospiza melodia

•First Nest

•Second Nest

•Third Nest

CGeographical and Ecological variations

•Brown Thrasher

*Eastern Range

*Western Range

4.Colonial Nesting

A.Function

i.Protection from Predators

a.Better Detection

b.Mobbing

ii.Promotes Education

iii.Synchronization in Breeding

iv.Optimized Foraging

B.Liabilities

i.Nest Site Competition

ii.Nest Materials Competition

iii.Intraspecific Fighting

iv.Infanticide

v.Parasite and Disease Transition

vi.Food Supply Exhaustion

vii.Predator Attractant

C.Size

D.Composition

5.Protective Interspecific Nesting Associations

6.Protective Nest Structures

A.Open Nests

B.Closed Nests

7.Microclimate of the Nest

A.Warmth

8.Forms of Nests

A.No Nest

B.Cavity

C.Open Nests

i.Primitive Nest

ii.Cup-shaped Nest

iii.Covered Nest

iv.Multiple Nests

9.Size of Nests

•Bald Eagles

•Incubator Birds

10.Nest

11.Materials Used in Nest-Building

A.Transport

i.Beak

ii.Talons

iii.Rump

iv.No Carry

B.Adaptability

C.Materials

•Thistle Down

•Spanish Moss

•Lichen (Fruticose)

•“Beetle Oil”

•Snake Skin

•Spider Webbing

•Saliva

•Pebbles

•Mud

12.Nest Building Behavior

A.Introduction

B.Carrying and Building Nest Material

i.Bill or Feet

ii.Rump Feathers

C.Knots

D.Learning

i.Imprinting

ii.Experience

13.Incubation

A.Hormones

i.Prolactin

ii.Testosterone

B.Timing

C.Brood Patches

D.Warmth

E.Cooling of Eggs

•Shading of Eggs

•Wetting of Eggs

•Panting

F.Turing of Eggs

G.Cost of Incubation

i.Supplemental Feeding

H.Relieve Ceremonies and Behaviors

J.Nest Abandonment

Page 1