Intraspecific nest parasitism in the swallow Hirundo rustica: the importance of neighbors

Summary

Intraspecific nest parasitism in the swallow Hirundo rustica involves several parasite and anti-parasite tactics. Neighboring swallows breed asynchronously, perhaps because neighboring nests with overlapping egg-laying periods have higher frequency of intraspecific nest parasitims than neighboring nests with no such overlap. Since nest guarding prevents nest parasitism, the effect of nest guarding was removed by putting up old swallow nests. Such experimental nests were parasitized by swallows more often when the nests contained eggs, than when empty, and when the nests were far away from, rather than close to, an active neighboring nest. Close experimental nests with eggs were, however, parasitized less frequently if asynchronous (non-overlapping egg-laying periods), rather than synchronous, to active neighboring nests. Aggressive anti-parasite behavior of nest owners was determined from responses towards female intruders. Responses were more often aggressive before and especially during egg laying than during incubation. Nest owners also behaved aggressively more often when the intruder approached close to as compared to at some distance from their nest. Focal pairs behaved aggressively more often towards closely approaching intruders during the incubation period than towards distantly approaching intruders during the egg-laying period. Swallows reduce the frequency of intraspecific nest parasitism by nesting asynchronously with and close to a neighboring nest. Aggression by neighbors may reduce the success of potential parasitic swallows.