Prolonged association between a pair and a related male in breeding Whooper Swans (Cygnus cygnus)

Authors

KRZYSZTOF DUDZIK
MICHAL POLAKOWSKI
MICHAL CIACH

DOI

10.3906/zoo-1702-4

Abstract

Waterfowl (Anatidae) are a group of birds in which parental care is performed by both parents (a pair) or, less often, by females only. Alternative social systems in this group have been recorded only occasionally. This paper describes three unusual cases of prolonged association between a pair and an additional male (the offspring or sibling of the primary pair) in breeding Whooper Swans (Cygnus cygnus). In all instances the three birds displayed no antagonistic behaviour towards family members, participated in territorial defence, and bred successfully. These cases are unusual in light of what is currently known about the social system of the highly territorial Whooper Swan in particular and of Anatidae in general, and are typical of cooperative breeding. This shows that swans may occasionally form an alternative social system.

Keywords

Anatidae, cooperative breeding, kinship pattern, social system

First Page

1096

Last Page

1099

Recommended Citation

DUDZIK, KRZYSZTOF; POLAKOWSKI, MICHAL; and CIACH, MICHAL (2017) "Prolonged association between a pair and a related male in breeding Whooper Swans (Cygnus cygnus)," Turkish Journal of Zoology: Vol. 41: No. 6, Article 16. https://doi.org/10.3906/zoo-1702-4
Available at: https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/vol41/iss6/16