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Rapid change in the defense of flightless young by a mourning dove parent

January 1, 2011

We report that an adult-sized Zenaida macroura (Mourning Dove), presumably a parent, rapidly decreased risk taken in defense of a juvenile as the likelihood of predation to the juvenile increased. We attribute this decrease in risk taken to (1) the parent's perception that the risk of predation had increased to the extent that a continuation of defensive behaviors would not prevent the death of the juvenile, and (2) its attempt to minimize its own risk of death. It may be that there is a threshold beyond which Mourning Dove parents will forgo the risk of additional defense of offspring in favor of making another reproductive attempt.

Publication Year 2011
Title Rapid change in the defense of flightless young by a mourning dove parent
DOI 10.1656/058.010.0217
Authors James Berdeen, D. L. Otis
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Southeastern Naturalist
Index ID 70034202
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse