Sunday, July 04, 2010

juvenile Coot feeding young

it is well known that the young from early Moorhen broods will assist in feeding chicks from later broods but I had never seen this in Coot before; checking in BWPi it is recorded but must be pretty unusual as most pairs seldom rear two broods

After hatching of 2nd brood, older young either driven away (Kraus 1968) or remain, occasionally feeding younger chicks (Burkill 1933; Ruthke 1939; Kear 1966). 

1 comment:

Out Walking the Dog said...

What a terrific series of photos. I ad no idea juveniles would help feed the babies. Really fascinating.