Interspecific feeding
Encyclopedia
Interspecific feeding refers to behaviour reported in wild animals, particularly birds where adults of one species feed the young of another species. This usually excludes the case of birds feeding brood parasites. The behaviour has been of theoretical interest since it appears to be provide little evolutionary benefit
to the feeding bird. Some researchers have suggested that it is mainly male birds that are lured into feeding a fledgling that begs.
Such behaviour is also related to alloparenting
, cross-fostering
and brood adoption
. Several situations have been suggested that lead to this including:
Shy (1982) listed 65 species of birds involved in interspecific feeding. Riedman (1982) listed 150 species of birds that adopted young that did not belong to themselves.
Fitness (biology)
Fitness is a central idea in evolutionary theory. It can be defined either with respect to a genotype or to a phenotype in a given environment...
to the feeding bird. Some researchers have suggested that it is mainly male birds that are lured into feeding a fledgling that begs.
Such behaviour is also related to alloparenting
Alloparenting
In biology and sociology, alloparenting is where individuals other than the actual parents act in a parental role.One common form of alloparenting is where grandparents adopt a parental role. This is sometimes named a "skipped generation household"...
, cross-fostering
Cross-fostering
Cross-fostering is a technique used in animal husbandry, animal science, genetic and nature versus nurture studies, and conservation, whereby offspring are removed from their biological parents at birth and raised by surrogates. This can also occasionally occur in nature.-Animal...
and brood adoption
Adoption
Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents...
. Several situations have been suggested that lead to this including:
- bird raised in a mixed clutch
- the original nest and brood of bird destroyed
- nests in very close proximity
- calling of young birds stimulates behaviour
- orphaned birds adopted temporarily or permanently
- a male bird feeding another species while mate incubated
- feeding bird is mateless and finds a mateless bird at nest
Shy (1982) listed 65 species of birds involved in interspecific feeding. Riedman (1982) listed 150 species of birds that adopted young that did not belong to themselves.