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NEST‐SITE SELECTION, PAIR FORMATION AND TERRITORY IN THE HOUSE‐SPARROW PASSER DOMESTICUS
Author(s) -
SummersSmith D.
Publication year - 1958
Publication title -
ibis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1474-919X
pISSN - 0019-1019
DOI - 10.1111/j.1474-919x.1958.tb08790.x
Subject(s) - sparrow , passer , nest (protein structural motif) , seasonal breeder , ecology , biology , zoology , nest box , geography , biochemistry
Summary It is shown that once House‐sparrows have bred they normally remain faithful to their mates and nest‐sites for life. Exceptions to this faithfulness to nest‐site may occur in areas where suitable sites are plentiful, when the pair may hold two sites and use these indiscriminately for breeding. Such sites are normally only a few yards apart. Pair formation most frequently occurs by replacement when one bird of an established pair dies. This takes place from February till the end of the breeding season and again in the autumn. First‐year males that do not become paired in this way take up nest‐sites from February onwards, and may then attract young females to pair with them. Bigamy appears to be uncommon. The House‐sparrow is a colonial nester and territorial behaviour is limited to defence of the nest‐site. The factors of importance in these aspects of the life of the House‐sparrow are: sexual dimorphism, sedentary behaviour and the use of fixed sites for nesting. Colonial nesting is considered to have arisen from the bird's feeding habits and sedentary behaviour; it is maintained by the method of pair formation.