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Unusual behavior in the parental care of a house wren (Troglodytes aedon): Post fledging use of an old nest during cold nights

September 1, 2015

I report on the unusual behavior of an adult House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) leading recently fledged young back to the nest for two consecutive nights. The ambient temperature reached below 0°C during both nights. Despite disadvantages associated with remaining in the nest, this observation suggests that adult birds may assess trade-offs between perceived risks versus the benefits of engaging in other activities, in this case roosting communally for thermoregulation.

Publication Year 2015
Title Unusual behavior in the parental care of a house wren (Troglodytes aedon): Post fledging use of an old nest during cold nights
DOI 10.1676/14-083.1
Authors Micah N. Scholer
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Wilson Journal of Ornithology
Index ID 70162454
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center