Territoriality in Red-breasted Flycatchers was studied in the Białowieża Forest of Eastern Poland during five consecutive breeding seasons (2000–2004). In total 99 males were individually marked, and evidence of polyterritoriality was found in 10% of them. The proportion of polyterritorial males varied from 0% (in 2003) to 13.6% (in 2001). The mean distance between the first and second territories was 278 m (± 179.37, n = 10). The rate of polyterritoriality was not related to age class, as older males defended dual territories that were, on average, not more distantly separated than those of younger males. One case of polygyny was recorded. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence for polyteritoriality and polygyny in male Red-breasted Flycatchers.
REFERENCES
A. Aleknonis
1976. Biology of Red-breasted Flycatcher in SW part of Lithuania. Mat. IX Pribalt. Orn. Konf., Vilnius, pp. 3–6. Google Scholar
I. Byshnev
,
K. D. Stavrovsky
1998. On the biology of the Redbreasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva) in Berezinsky Nature Reserve (Belarus). Subbuteo 1: 25–28. Google Scholar
S. Cramp,
C. M. Perrins
(eds). 1993. The birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol. VII. Oxford Univ. Press. Google Scholar
H. Ellengren
,
J. T. Lifjeld
,
T. Slagsvold
,
C. R. Primmer
1995. Handicapped males and extrapair paternity in the pied flycatcher: a study using microsatelite markers. Mol. Ecol. 4: 739–744. Google Scholar
M. Flade
1997. Red-breasted Flycatcher. In:
W. J. M. Hagemeijer,
M. J. Blair
(eds). The EBCC Atlas of European Birds. The distribution and abundance. T. & A. D. Poyser, London, pp. 616–617. Google Scholar
U. N. Glutz von Blotzheim
,
K. M. Bauer
1993. Handbuch der Vogel Mitteleuropas. Passeriformes. Aula Verlag, Wiesbaden. Google Scholar
L. Gustafsson
1990. Life-history trade-offs and optimal clutch size in relation to age in the collared flycatcher. In:
J. Blondel,
A. Grossler,
J. D. Lebrenton,
R. McCleary
(eds). Population biology of Passerine birds: an integrated approach. Springer Verlag, Berlin, pp. 235–245. Google Scholar
D. Hasselquist
,
P. W. Sherman
2001. Social mating systems and extra pair fertilization in passerine in birds. Behav. Ecol. 12: 457–466. Google Scholar
H. Löhrl
1976. Studies of less familiar birds Collared Flycatcher. Brit. Birds 69: 20–26. Google Scholar
T. Lubjuhn
,
W. Winkel
,
J. T. Epplen
,
J. Brün
2000. Reproductive success of monogamous and polygynous pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca). Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 48: 12–17. Google Scholar
A. Lundberg
,
R. V. Alatalo
1992. The pied flycatcher. T. & A. D. Poyser, London. Google Scholar
C. Mitrus
,
B. Soćko
2004. Natural nest sites of the Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva in a primeval forest. Acta Ornithol. 39: 53–57. Google Scholar
C. Mitrus
,
T. H. Sparks
,
P. Tryjanowski
2005. First evidence of phenological change in a transcontinental migrant overwintering in the Indian sub-continent: the Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva.
Ornis Fennica 82: 13–19. Google Scholar
A. P. Møller
1986. Mating systems among European passerines: a review. 128: 234–250. Google Scholar
U. H. Reichard
,
C. Boesch
2003. Monogamy. Mating strategies an partnerships in birds, humans and other mammals. Cambridge Univ. Press. Google Scholar
L. M. Sachslehner
1995. Reviermerkmale und Brutplatzwahl in einer Naturhöhlen-Population des Halsbandschnäppers Ficedula albicollis im Wienerwald, Österreich. Vogelwelt 116: 245–254. Google Scholar
T. Slagsvold
,
T. Drevon
1999. Female pied flycatcher trade between male quality and mating status in mate choice. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 266: 917–921. Google Scholar
L. Svensson
1992. Identification guide to European Passerines. Naturhistoriska Riksuseet, Stockholm. Google Scholar
L. Tomiałojć
1991. Characteristics of old growth in the Bialowieża Forest, Poland. Nat. Areas J. 11: 7–18. Google Scholar
H. Weber
1958. Beobachtungen am Nest des Zwergschnappers (Muscicapa parva). J. Ornithol. 99: 160–172. Google Scholar
T. Wesołowski
,
L. Tomiałojć
C. Mitrus
,
P. Rowiński
,
D. Czeszczewik
2002. The breeding bird community of a primaeval temperate forest (Białowieża National Park, Poland) at the end of the 20th century. Acta Ornithol. 37: 27–45. Google Scholar
