Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Associations among members of a black-capped chickadee flock

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

Summary

One color-banded black-capped chickadee flock was studied intensively at a winter feeder in Wisconsin. Flock structure was examined by measuring association among flock members in three ways: spatial proximity, temporal association, and association of individuals during flock movements. Additional information was obtained on aggressive interactions at and near the feeder. By midwinter, the strongest attachments were between males and females who subsequently mated; pair attachments strengthened as the breeding season approached. Lower ranked individuals in the dominance hierarchy showed weaker associations with other flock members in early spring than did more dominant individuals. The strong attachment to the mate may have implications for altruistic behavior within the winter flock.

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

  • Barnes JAG (1975) The titmice of the British Isles. David and Charles, Newton Abbot, England

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown JL (1975) The evolution of behavior. Norton, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Dice LR (1945) Measures of the amount of ecological association between species. Ecology 26:297–302

    Google Scholar 

  • Ficken MS, Witkin SR (1977) Responses of black-capped chickadee flocks to predators. Auk 94:156–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Ficken MS, Ficken RW, Witkin SR (1978) The vocal repertoire of the black-capped chickadee. Auk 95:34–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Glase JC (1973) Ecology of social organization in the black-capped chickadee. Living Bird 12:235–267

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamerstrom F (1942) Dominance in winter flocks of chickadees. Wilson Bull 54:32–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Odum EP (1942) Annual cycle of the black-capped chickadee. Auk 59:499–531

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegel S (1956) Nonparametric statistics for the behavioral sciences. McGraw Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Weise CM (1971) Population dynamics of the black-capped chickadee. Univ Wisc Field Stn Bull 4:6–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Weise CM, Meyer JR (1979) Juvenile dispersal and development of site — fidelity in the black-capped chickadee. Auk 96:40–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Witkin SR, Ficken MS (1979) Chickadee alarm calls: Does mate investment pay dividends? Anim Behav 27:1275–1276

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Steve R. Witkin

    Present address: Medical School, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Wisconsin, 53201, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

    Millicent S. Ficken, Steve R. Witkin & Charles M. Weise

Authors
  1. Millicent S. Ficken
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Steve R. Witkin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Charles M. Weise
    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

Ficken, M.S., Witkin, S.R. & Weise, C.M. Associations among members of a black-capped chickadee flock. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 8, 245–249 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00299522

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00299522

Keywords

Search

Navigation