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- Pechacek, Peter, et al.
(author)
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Classical polyandry found in the three-toed woodpecker Picoides tridactylus
- 2006
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In: Journal of Ornithology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0021-8375 .- 2193-7192 .- 2193-7206. ; 147:1, s. 112-114
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report two cases of simultaneous, social polyandry in the three-toed woodpecker Picoides tridactylus found in Berchtesgaden National Park, Germany during an 11-year study. The first case was between two neighbouring pairs in 2003. A female incubated both of her clutches during a period of at least 8 days. The second case was in 2004 between a widowed male and a female of a neighbouring pair. This time, a female divided parental care between her two clutches during a period of at least 27 days. We hypothesise that social polyandry in the three-toed woodpecker may be linked to the parental quality of the first male.
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| 4. |
- Pechacek, Peter, et al.
(author)
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Monogamy with exceptions: Social and genetic mating system in a bird species with high paternal investment
- 2005
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In: Behaviour. - : Brill. - 0005-7959 .- 1568-539X. ; 142:8, s. 1093-1114
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Animal mating systems are strongly linked to costs and benefits associated with parental care. A high degree of male parental care may explain the occasional occurrence of social polyandry in some monogamous birds such as woodpeckers. We examined mating and parental behaviours of 55 three-toed woodpeckers Picoides tridaclylus, and used DNA fingerprinting to study its genetic mating system over 11 years. Sexes shared nest hole guarding and parental care, but males allocated significantly more time to territory defence, cavity excavation and feeding young than females. Two (7.4%) of the 27 females were polyandrous, each paired simultaneously with two males. Four (7.3%) out of 55 chicks were extra-pair (15.4% of the broods). Two of these chicks were associated with social polyandry, and one with female parasitism. Hence, three-toed woodpeckers were socially and genetically predominantly monogamous. We propose that both social and genetic polyandry in woodpeckers are constrained by the long duration of cavity excavation, few re-mating opportunities, and by the fact that bi-parental care is important for reproductive success.
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