Marsh Hawk Retrieves Young to the Nest
Journal
Raptor Research
Volume
15
Issue
1 (Spring)
Year
1981
Pages
19-22
Section
Scientific Papers
Online Text
Abstract
Semialtricial Harrier chicks frequently crawl from the nest into surrounding vegetation. A Marsh Hawk female was seen to retrieve 3 of her chicks to the nest. Records of raptors, including Harriers, eating dead chicks or feeding them to siblings are frequent. When a raptor encounters its chicks away from the nest, how does it distinguish them from prey? A breakdown in behavior between parents and their chicks has been suggested as a possible cause of kronism or progenicide in Herring Gulls and Doublecrested Cormorants. Attack or predatory responses may be inhibited and retrieving behavior evoked by the color and doddering movements of Harrier chicks.
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