Faeces, Feathers and Flight: Understanding of Escape Behaviour in Incubating Eurasian Woodcocks (Scolopax rusticola)
Martin Sládeček, Kateřina Brynychová, Lucie Nutilová, Miroslav E. Šálek

TL;DR
This study explores escape behaviors in incubating woodcocks, finding that defecation and feather shedding may help females escape predators rather than protect the nest.
Contribution
The study is the first to document fright moulting as a potential antipredator behavior during escape in Eurasian woodcocks.
Findings
Defecation signs were observed in 54% of photographed woodcock nests.
Freshly moulted feathers were visible in 67% of nests, suggesting a new antipredator behavior.
These behaviors may aid the female's escape rather than protect the nest from predators.
Abstract
Predators are a leading cause of breeding failure as well as adult mortality in most bird species, prompting the evolution of various antipredator behaviours. Among these, cryptic breeding birds often rely on strategies such as nest concealment and reduced activity to avoid detection. However, even some cryptic species have been observed to respond more actively to an approaching predator. One behaviour suggested to have an antipredatory function is defecating over the nest and eggs when departing. In this study, we investigate this behaviour in incubating female Eurasian woodcocks ( Scolopax rusticola ) using a large data set of 399 photographed nests sourced from various open‐source internet platforms. Our analysis reveals that signs of defecation are obvious in 54% of nest photos. Moreover, in 67% of nests are visible freshly moulted feathers are visible around the nest, indicating…
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Taxonomy
TopicsAvian ecology and behavior · Animal Behavior and Reproduction · Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
