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The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 124(3):611-614, 2012 
Intraspecific Brood Parasitism of the Pale-breasted Thrush (Tardus leucomelcis ) 
Paulo V. Davamjo , 1 Livia M. S. Souza , 1 
Leonardo S. de Oliveira , 1 and Mercival R. Francisco 1 ’ 2 
ABSTRACT.—We report the first evidence for 
intraspecific brood parasitism (IBP) of the opcn-cup 
nesting Pale-breasted Thrush ( Tardus leucomelus) in 
southeast Brazil. Four of 15 nests followed from 
building stage onwards had evidence of IBP <27Tf). as 
detected from laying of two eggs in the same day in a 
nest (/) = 2). laying of an additional egg after onset of 
incubation in = I). and egg laying before the end ol 
nest construction (n = I). Only a few cases of IBP have 
been reported for neotropical songbirds but it is likely 
more will be reported as they become belter studied. We 
believe limited territory availability or nest loss during 
laying were potential causes of IBP in our study 
population. Received 23 August 21111. Accepted I May 
2012 . 
The study of avian brood parasitism has 
focused mainly on obligate interspecific parasites 
(Lyon and Eadie 2008). A grow ing body of work, 
however, documents facultative intraspecific 
brood parasitism (IBP) (Yom-lov and Gellen 
2006. Shaw and Hauher 2009). This reproductive 
1 Universidade Federal de Sjo Carlos. Campus de Soro- 
caba. Departumento de Ciencias Ambientais, Rodovia Joao 
Lcme dos Santos, Km I 10- Sorocuba. SP. CEP 18052-780. 
Brazil. 
2 Corresponding author; e-mail: mercival@ufscar.br 
strategy is more than twice as common as 
interspecific parasitism (Yom-Tov 2001. Schiel- 
zeth and Behind 2010), but has received less 
attention probably because it is more difficult to 
detect (Lyon and Eadie 2008, Eadie ei al. 2010). 
Females using this strategy lay their eggs in nests 
of conspecifics without providing any additional 
parental investment (Yom-Tov 1980, Lyon and 
Eadie 2008. Griffith et al. 2009). Records of IBP 
have been observed disproportionately more in 
precocial species (46% of Anseri formes vs. 1% of 
Passeriformes; reviewed by Yom-Tov 2001). 
Precocial birds may exlubit this behavior more 
because they lay more eggs and have a longer 
laying period, leaving more time for conspecific 
parasitism to occur. In addition, parasitic eggs and 
young for precocial species may tax host-parent 
resources less than for altricia! birds, providing less 
incentive for hosts to develop behaviors to 
counteract parasitism (Yom-Tov 1980, Sorenson 
1992, Yom-Tov el al. 2000). Despite the altricial 
versus precocial duality. 57.5% of the known cases 
of IBP are from colonial breeders: among the 
Passeriformes it reaches —70% (Yom-Tov 2001). 
Researchers have looked tor IBP dispropor¬ 
tionately more in Anseri formes than in any other 
avian group (Yom-Tov et al. 2000, Yom-fov 
