Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Parental care behavior in the monogamous, sexually dimorphic Madagascar paradise flycatcher: sex differences and the effect of brood size

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Ecological Research

Abstract

I studied the parental care behavior of the Madagascar paradise flycatcher Terpsiphone mutata in northwestern Madagascar. I especially focused on feeding, brooding and vigilance behaviors. Feeding rate did not differ between males and females, but females spent more time at the nest than males. Females dedicated their time to brooding, while males perched on the nest and were vigilant. Both parents changed the feeding rate in relation to brood size, so the feeding rate per nestling was not different among nests of different brood size. Duration of brooding by females increased with decreasing brood size, suggesting that the Royama effect, the pattern of lower feeding rate per nestling in larger broods, did not apply in this study. Males spent more time on vigilance than females. Anti-predator vigilance by males should be important for nestling survival given the high predation pressure typical of this population. In conclusion, males provide considerable parental care probably to minimize nestling starvation and to avoid nest predation. My results are not consistent with the general pattern of less parental effort by males in monogamous, sexually dimorphic species.

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

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andersson M (1994) Sexual selection. Princeton University Press, Princeton

    Google Scholar 

  • Best LB (1977) Nestling biology of the Field Sparrow. Auk 94:308–319

    Google Scholar 

  • Björklund M (1990) A phylogenetic interaction of sexual dimorphism in body size and ornament in relation to mating system in birds. J Evol Biol 3:171–183

    Google Scholar 

  • Breitwisch R, Merritt PG, Whitesides GH (1986) Parental investment by the Northern Mockingbird: male and female roles in feeding nestlings. Auk 103:152–159

    Google Scholar 

  • Carere C, Alleva E (1998) Sex differences in parental care in the common swift (Apus apus): effect of brood size and nestling age. Can J Zool 76:1382–1387

    Google Scholar 

  • Clutton-Brock TH (1991) The evolution of parental care. Princeton University Press, Princeton

    Google Scholar 

  • Darwin C (1871) The descent of man, and selection in relation to sex. Murray, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunn PO, Whittingham LA, Pitcher TE (2001) Mating systems, sperm competition, and the evolution of sexual dimorphism in birds. Evolution 55:161–175

    Google Scholar 

  • Filliater TS, Breitwitch R (1997) Nestling provisioning by the extremely dichromatic Northern Cardinal. Wilson Bull 109:145–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodman SM, Parrillo P (1997) A study of the diets of malagasy birds based on stomach contents. Ostrich 68:104–113

    Google Scholar 

  • Hails CJ (1979) A comparison of flight energetics in Hirundinidae and other birds. Comp Biochem Physiol A 63:581–585

    Google Scholar 

  • Hino T (1998) Mutualistic and commensal organization of avian mixed-species foraging flocks in a forest of western Madagascar. J Avian Biol 29:17–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson EJ, Best LB (1982) Factors affecting feeding and brooding of Gray Catbird nestlings. Auk 99:148–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirkpatrick M, Price T, Arnold SJ (1990) The Darwin–Fisher theory of sexual selection in monogamous birds. Evolution 44:180–193

    Google Scholar 

  • Knapton RW (1984) Parental feeding of nestling Nashville Warblers: the effects of food type, brood size, nestling age, and time of day. Wilson Bull 96:594–602

    Google Scholar 

  • Lack D (1968) Ecological adaptations for breeding in birds. Methuen, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Langrand O (1990) Guide to the birds of Madagascar. Yale University Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus J, Inglis IR (1986) Shared and unshared parental investment, parent–offspring conflict and brood size. Anim Behav 34:1791–1804

    Google Scholar 

  • Leffelaar D, Robertson RJ (1986) Equality of feeding roles and the maintenance of monogamy in tree swallows. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 18:199–206

    Google Scholar 

  • Ligon JD (1999) The evolution of avian breeding systems. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Mizuta T (1998) The breeding biology of the black paradise flycatcher Terpsiphone atrocaudata. Jpn J Ornithol 47:25–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Mizuta T (2000) Intrusion into neighboring home range by male Madagascar paradise flycatchers Terpsiphone mutata: a circumstantial evidence for extra-pair copulation. J Ethol 18:123–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Mizuta T (2002a) Seasonal changes in egg mass and timing of laying in the Madagascar paradise flycatcher, Terpsiphone mutata. Ostrich 73:5–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Mizuta T (2002b) Breeding biology of the Madagascar paradise flycatcher Terpsiphone mutata, with special reference to plumage variation in males. Ostrich 73:67–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Mizuta T (2002c) Predation by Eulemur fulvus fulvus on a nestling of Terpsiphone mutata (Aves: Monarchidae) in dry forest in northwestern Madagascar. Folia Primatol 73:217–219

    Google Scholar 

  • Mizuta T, Yamagishi S (1998) Breeding biology of monogamous Asian paradise flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi (Aves: Monarchinae): a special reference to color dimorphism and exaggerated long tails in male. Raffles Bull Zool 46:101–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Møller AP (1986) Mating systems among European passerines: a review. Ibis 128:234–250

    Google Scholar 

  • Møller AP, Birkhead TR (1993) Certainty of paternity covaries with parental care in birds. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 33:261–268

    Google Scholar 

  • Møller AP, Birkhead TR (1994) The evolution of plumage brightness in birds is related to extrapair paternity. Evolution 48:1089–1100

    Google Scholar 

  • Møller AP, Thornhill R (1998) Male parental care, differential parental investment by females and sexual selection. Anim Behav 55:1507–1515

    Google Scholar 

  • Moreau RE (1947) Relations between number in brood, feeding-rate and nestling period in nine species of birds in Tanganyka Territory. J Anim Ecol 16:205–209

    Google Scholar 

  • Mulder RA, Ramiarison R (2003) Terpsiphone mutata, Madagascar paradise flycatcher, Remaly, Tsingetra, Rengetra, Singetraka, Dady, Angetry. In: Goodman SM, Benstead JP (eds) The natural history of Madagascar. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp 1134–1146

    Google Scholar 

  • Nur N (1984) Feeding frequencies of nestling blue tits (Parus caeruleus): costs, benefits and a model of optimal feeding frequency. Oecologia 65:125–137

    Google Scholar 

  • Owens IPF, Hartley IR (1998) Sexual dimorphism in birds: why are there so many different forms of dimorphism? Proc R Soc London B 265:397–407

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosa SM, Murphy MT (1994) Trade-offs and constraints on Eastern Kingbird parental care. Wilson Bull 106:668–678

    Google Scholar 

  • Royama T (1966) Factors governing feeding rate, food requirement and brood size of Great Tits Parus major. Ibis 108:313–347

    Google Scholar 

  • Rytkönen S, Koivula K, Orell M (1996) Patterns of per-brood and per-offspring provisioning efforts in the Willow Tit Parus montanus. J Avian Biol 27:21–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Schadd CA, Ritchison G (1998) Provisioning of nestlings by male and female Yellow-breasted Chats. Wilson Bull 110:398–402

    Google Scholar 

  • Sinclair I, Langrand O (1998) Birds of the Indian Ocean islands. Struik, Cape Town

    Google Scholar 

  • Sokal RR, Rohlf FJ (1995) Biometry. W.H. Freeman, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Trémont S, Ford HA (2000) Partitioning of parental care in the Leaden Flycatcher. Emu 100:1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Verner J, Willson MF (1969) Mating systems, sexual dimorphism, and the role of male North American passerine birds in the nesting cycle. Ornithol Monogr 9:1–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Westneat DF (1988) Male parental care and extrapair copulations in the Indigo Bunting. Auk 105:149–160

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams JB (1988) Field metabolism of tree swallows during the breeding season. Auk 105:706–714

    Google Scholar 

  • Winkler DW (1987) A general model for parental care. Am Nat 130:526–543

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodard JD, Murphy MT (1999) Sex roles, parental experience and reproductive success of eastern kingbirds, Tyrannus tyrannus. Anim Behav 57:105–115

    Google Scholar 

  • Yasukawa K, McClure JL, Boley RA, Zanocco J (1990) Provisioning of nestlings by male and female red-winged blackbirds, Agelaius phoeniceus. Anim Behav 40:153–166

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

I am grateful to Dr. Satoshi Yamagishi and the members of the Madagascar Ornithological and Herpetological Research Team for their valuable criticisms of this study. I am also indebted to the Director, Albert Randrianjafy, and other staff of Parc Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza for their cooperation. Hearty thanks go to the staff of ANGAP for providing accommodation and facilities at Ampijoroa Forest Station. Dr. Alan Savitzky kindly checked English usage in an early draft. This study was supported by a grant under the Monbusho International Scientific Research Program (Field Research, Nos. 01041079 and 06041093) and the JSPS Research Fellowships for Young Scientists.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Taku Mizuta

    Present address: Laboratory of Geographical Ecology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Toho University, 2-2-1 Miyama, Funabashi, Chiba, 274-8510, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Ethology, Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake-Cho, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan

    Taku Mizuta

Authors
  1. Taku Mizuta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Taku Mizuta.

About this article

Cite this article

Mizuta, T. Parental care behavior in the monogamous, sexually dimorphic Madagascar paradise flycatcher: sex differences and the effect of brood size. Ecol Res 20, 547–553 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-005-0066-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-005-0066-5

Key words

Search

Navigation