Unusual Behavior in Parental Care by a House Wren (Troglodytes aedon): Post Fledging Use of an Old Nest During Cold Nights

Authors

Micah N. Scholer, University of British Columbia

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

The Wilson Journal of Ornithology

Volume

127

Issue

3

Publisher

Wilson Ornithological Society

Publication Date

9-1-2015

First Page

545

Last Page

547

Abstract

I report on the unusual behavior of an adult House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) leading recently fledged young back to the nest for two consecutive nights. The ambient temperature reached below 0°C during both nights. Despite disadvantages associated with remaining in the nest, this observation suggests that adult birds may assess trade-offs between perceived risks versus the benefits of engaging in other activities, in this case roosting communally for thermoregulation.

Recommended Citation

Scholer, M.N. Unusual Behavior in Parental Care by a House Wren (Troglodytes aedon): Post Fledging Use of an Old Nest During Cold Nights. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 127(3), 545-547, (1 September 2015)