Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Age-dependent vigilance in winter aggregations of cooperatively breeding white-winged choughs (Corcorax melanorhamphos)

  • Published:
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Winter aggregation of cooperatively breeding white-winged choughs (Corcorax melanorhamphos) was examined to elucidate the advantages for different group members. Adults have higher vigilance burdens than juveniles when foraging in their regular group. Aggregation of groups in winter enables the older members to reduce vigilance and increase the time spent foraging. Vigilance was lowest and foraging time highest in aggregations of 20 individuals but the size of cooperatively breeding groups did not exceed fifteen. Despite increased foraging time, choughs did not consume more food items when aggregating.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barnard CJ, Thompson DBA (1985) Gulls and plovers — The ecology and behaviour of mixed-species feeding groups. Columbia University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Caraco T (1979) Time budgeting and group size: A test of theory. Ecology 60:618–627

    Google Scholar 

  • Caraco T (1981) Risk-sensitivity and foraging groups. Ecology 62:527–531

    Google Scholar 

  • Caraco T, Martindale S, Pulliam HR (1980) Avian flocking in the presence of a predator. Nature 285:400–401

    Google Scholar 

  • Caraco T, Pulliam HR (1984) Sociality and survivorship in animals exposed to predation. In: Price PW, Slobodchicoff CN, Gaud WS (eds) New Ecology: Novel Approaches to Interactive Systems. Wiley, New York, pp 279–313

    Google Scholar 

  • Dobson A (1983) Introduction to statistical modelling. Chapman and Hall, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Hegner RE (1985) Dominance and anti-predator behaviour in blue tits (Parus major). Anim Behav 33:762–768

    Google Scholar 

  • Inglis IR, Lazarus J (1981) Vigilance and flock size in Brent geese: the edge effect. Z Tierpsychol 57:193–200

    Google Scholar 

  • Pulliam HR, Caraco T (1984) Living in groups: Is there an optimal group size? In: Krebs JR, Davies NB (eds) Behavioural ecology — An evolutionary approach. Blackwells, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Rabenold KN, Christensen CR (1979) Effects of aggregation on feeding and survival in a communal wren. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 6:39–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowley I (1974) Bird life. Collins: Sydney

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowley I (1978) Communal activities among white-winged choughs, Corcorax melanorhamphus. Ibis 120:178–197

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, The Australian National University, GPO Box 4, 2601, Canberra, A.C.T., Australia

    Robert G. Heinsohn

Authors
  1. Robert G. Heinsohn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Heinsohn, R.G. Age-dependent vigilance in winter aggregations of cooperatively breeding white-winged choughs (Corcorax melanorhamphos). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 20, 303–306 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00292183

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00292183

Keywords

Search

Navigation