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Agnonistic behavior in short-billed dowitchers feeding on a patchy resource

The Wilson Bulletin
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Abstract

In this paper we describe an instance of unusual, agonistic behavior in a flock of migrant Short-billed Dowitchers (Limnodromus griseus) . We compare this behavior to that of other flocks feeding at the same time at other locations in the same estuary and then present evidence suggesting that this behavior resulted from the patchy distribution of the probable foraging resource of this flock, eggs of the horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus). We propose that an extremely patchy resource has increased the agonistic behavior within the flock by increasing the variation in foraging success among individuals.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Agnonistic behavior in short-billed dowitchers feeding on a patchy resource
Series title The Wilson Bulletin
Volume 91
Issue 2
Year Published 1979
Language English
Publisher Wilson Ornithological Society
Contributing office(s) Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Description 8 p.
First page 271
Last page 278
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