Abstract
We describe the case of an unusually large capercaillie Tetrao urogallus clutch consisting of 12 eggs, of which four chicks hatched. Eight eggs died in an early stage of development. Genetic analyses revealed that the putative mother of the chicks was different from the one laying the unhatched eggs. We compare our results with reports from clutches elsewhere and conclude that nest site adoption is a likely explanation for joint clutches in grouse.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Peter Kuske for showing us the nest and for sharing his observations with us. Vladimir Borchtchevski, Larry Ellison, Ariane Laurent-Bernard, Emmanuel Ménoni, Jimmy Oswald, Per Wegge, Tomas Willebrand, and Tor Spidsö reported their experience with unusual grouse clutches to us. Jevgeni Shergalin helped with translation of Russian literature.
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Storch, I., Segelbacher, G. Two grouse clutches in the same nest: evidence for nest site adoption in capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus). J Ornithol 146, 85–88 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-004-0064-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-004-0064-3