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Sex role partitioning during offspring protection in the Rough‐legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus
Author(s) -
Staffan Andersson,
Wiklund Christer G.
Publication year - 1987
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.1987.tb03165.x
Subject(s) - lagopus , buzzard , offspring , predator , biology , sexual selection , nest (protein structural motif) , ornaments , zoology , predation , ecology , geography , pregnancy , genetics , arctic , archaeology , style (visual arts) , biochemistry
Nest defence and sex role partitioning during offspring protection were examined in tests with a human territory intruder as well as a dummy. Five defence responses including warning calls were identified. Except for the warning call, males were more aggressive than females. The most important defence response, the attack, was performed by males only. We suggest that individual and inter‐individual selection work in concert to maintain small male size due to the requirements of great aerial agility during predator deterring actions.