2006/07/01 by Jan Pinowski, Barbara Pinowska, Miłosława Barkowska +3 · 1 citation
Environmental Science · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Avian ecology and behavior #Animal Behavior and Reproduction #Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior #Sparrow #Nest (protein structural motif) #Seasonal breeder #Passer #Biology #Ficedula #Nest box #Parus #Zoology #Ecology #Passerine
paper · pdf · doi:10.3161/068.041.0103
openalex publication_date 2006/07/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22
The Tree Sparrow is one of the species exhibiting classical autumn sexual behaviour. Autumn nest selection by this species was studied in Central Poland, especially with respect to the history of nest-boxes in the previous breeding season. During the autumn display, Tree Sparrows constructed nests significantly more often in boxes that had been occupied in spring by conspecifics, but only rarely in empty boxes, in boxes where House Sparrow Passer domesticus, tits Parus sp., Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca, Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus had nested, or in boxes used by hymenopterans. During the autumn display, Tree Sparrows showed a preference for boxes where nestlings had hatched. Nests with nestlings in the breeding season are a cue used in selecting nest site in the autumn sexual behaviour.