The production of regurgitation pellets in the great tit (Parus major)

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2022

Original Publication

The Glasgow naturalist

Volume

27

Series / Issue

Issue: 4

Pages

7-12

Contributed by

Glasgow Natural History Society

Language

English

Published by

Glasgow Glasgow Natural History Society

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37208/tgn27405

 

Abstract

The nesting behaviour of the great tit (Parus major)from nest preparation to fledging was followed continuously by video-recording in two identical nest-boxes over two seasons during 2020 and 2021 in the same large rural garden. Unexpectedly, the production of a series of regurgitation pellets (RPs) by the nestlings was recorded during the 2020 season. No pellet regurgitation was recorded during the 2021 season.Recordings were also made of adult great tits producing small RPs as they roosted. I suggest that this unprecedented RP production by nestlings resulted from the consumption of sub optimal food items due to the poor breeding season of 2020.