Function of juvenile plumage in the northern goshawk ( Accipiter gentilis): aggressive mimicry hypothesis
Multiple raptors show juvenile plumage that is substantially different from that of their parents. Here, we test the prediction that the colouration of the juvenile northern goshawk Accipiter gentilis resembling the colouration of the common buzzard Buteo buteo acts as a form of aggressive mimicry....
Published in: | Journal of Avian Biology |
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Language: | English |
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jav.03192 |
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crwiley:10.1111/jav.03192 2024-05-19T07:27:20+00:00 Function of juvenile plumage in the northern goshawk ( Accipiter gentilis): aggressive mimicry hypothesis Špička, Jan Veselý, Petr Fuchs, Roman 2024 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jav.03192 en eng Wiley http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Journal of Avian Biology volume 2024, issue 5-6 ISSN 0908-8857 1600-048X journal-article 2024 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1111/jav.03192 2024-04-25T08:26:06Z Multiple raptors show juvenile plumage that is substantially different from that of their parents. Here, we test the prediction that the colouration of the juvenile northern goshawk Accipiter gentilis resembling the colouration of the common buzzard Buteo buteo acts as a form of aggressive mimicry. The goshawk specialises in hunting larger birds and mammals up to the size of geese or hares, while the buzzard preys mostly on small rodents. Larger birds may thus consider juvenile goshawks as less dangerous raptors, and the juvenile goshawk may thus gain an advantage when hunting. We used the Eurasian magpie Pica pica , a common prey of the goshawk, to test this prediction. We compared the behavioural responses of magpie parents defending their freshly fledged young towards mounts of an adult goshawk, juvenile goshawk, and buzzard. To be able to assess whether this behaviour differs from responses to a nest predator and a harmless bird we also presented a common raven Corvus corax and common pheasant Phasianus colchicus as baseline stimuli. Both juvenile and adult goshawks elicited antipredatory behaviour, but magpies took more risks facing juvenile goshawks. Additionally, the intensity of antipredatory behaviour towards the juvenile goshawk was also higher than towards the buzzard. We thus conclude that magpies do distinguish between juvenile and adult goshawks, as well as they do distinguish juvenile goshawks from buzzards. They are able to assess the threat particular raptors represent and respond accordingly. Analysis of spectral reflectance of stuffed specimens of these three raptors suggests there are differences, which can be used for the appropriate recognition. In conclusion, we cannot confirm the hypothesis of aggressive mimicry in juvenile goshawks that interact with magpies. Article in Journal/Newspaper Accipiter gentilis Northern Goshawk Wiley Online Library Journal of Avian Biology 2024 5-6 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Wiley Online Library |
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crwiley |
language |
English |
description |
Multiple raptors show juvenile plumage that is substantially different from that of their parents. Here, we test the prediction that the colouration of the juvenile northern goshawk Accipiter gentilis resembling the colouration of the common buzzard Buteo buteo acts as a form of aggressive mimicry. The goshawk specialises in hunting larger birds and mammals up to the size of geese or hares, while the buzzard preys mostly on small rodents. Larger birds may thus consider juvenile goshawks as less dangerous raptors, and the juvenile goshawk may thus gain an advantage when hunting. We used the Eurasian magpie Pica pica , a common prey of the goshawk, to test this prediction. We compared the behavioural responses of magpie parents defending their freshly fledged young towards mounts of an adult goshawk, juvenile goshawk, and buzzard. To be able to assess whether this behaviour differs from responses to a nest predator and a harmless bird we also presented a common raven Corvus corax and common pheasant Phasianus colchicus as baseline stimuli. Both juvenile and adult goshawks elicited antipredatory behaviour, but magpies took more risks facing juvenile goshawks. Additionally, the intensity of antipredatory behaviour towards the juvenile goshawk was also higher than towards the buzzard. We thus conclude that magpies do distinguish between juvenile and adult goshawks, as well as they do distinguish juvenile goshawks from buzzards. They are able to assess the threat particular raptors represent and respond accordingly. Analysis of spectral reflectance of stuffed specimens of these three raptors suggests there are differences, which can be used for the appropriate recognition. In conclusion, we cannot confirm the hypothesis of aggressive mimicry in juvenile goshawks that interact with magpies. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Špička, Jan Veselý, Petr Fuchs, Roman |
spellingShingle |
Špička, Jan Veselý, Petr Fuchs, Roman Function of juvenile plumage in the northern goshawk ( Accipiter gentilis): aggressive mimicry hypothesis |
author_facet |
Špička, Jan Veselý, Petr Fuchs, Roman |
author_sort |
Špička, Jan |
title |
Function of juvenile plumage in the northern goshawk ( Accipiter gentilis): aggressive mimicry hypothesis |
title_short |
Function of juvenile plumage in the northern goshawk ( Accipiter gentilis): aggressive mimicry hypothesis |
title_full |
Function of juvenile plumage in the northern goshawk ( Accipiter gentilis): aggressive mimicry hypothesis |
title_fullStr |
Function of juvenile plumage in the northern goshawk ( Accipiter gentilis): aggressive mimicry hypothesis |
title_full_unstemmed |
Function of juvenile plumage in the northern goshawk ( Accipiter gentilis): aggressive mimicry hypothesis |
title_sort |
function of juvenile plumage in the northern goshawk ( accipiter gentilis): aggressive mimicry hypothesis |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2024 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jav.03192 |
genre |
Accipiter gentilis Northern Goshawk |
genre_facet |
Accipiter gentilis Northern Goshawk |
op_source |
Journal of Avian Biology volume 2024, issue 5-6 ISSN 0908-8857 1600-048X |
op_rights |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/jav.03192 |
container_title |
Journal of Avian Biology |
container_volume |
2024 |
container_issue |
5-6 |
_version_ |
1799469798832209920 |