Adaptability and Site Tenacity in an Individual Starling

Abstract

be excluded that the adult calls were also involved in attracting adults to the area; however, their nearly simultaneous arrivals seem to preclude this. These responses to the distress calls of the young show that the vocalizations alone are sufficient to elicit distraction displays from adult Killdeers. Previous studies (e.g., Deane, Auk 61:243, 1944) have emphasized injury-feigning with reference to intruders near the nest or the young, but the role of the young in eliciting distraction display has not been previously reported. I thank B. G. Murray, Jr., and R. W. Storer for criticizing earlier drafts of the manuscript.