SOME ASPECTS OF THE AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR OF THREE CLOSELY RELATED PLOVERS (CHARADRIUS).

SUMMARY. Some aspects of the aggressive behaviour of the Little Ringed, Kentish and Ringed Plovers are described and compared, including fighting, chasing, threat‐display, butterfly display‐flight and displacement‐activities. The Little Ringed has a special flight‐threat‐display. The pre‐coitional display of the Ringed and Little Ringed is outlined because of its identity with their most intense threat‐display and possible connection with intra‐generic competition. It is suggested that the intra‐generic territorial adjustments that exist may have reproductive as well as ecological significance. Finally the distraction‐displays and other predator‐reactions are very briefly compared in general terms.