Abstract
Avian blood oxygen capacity (BOC) was measured by a modification of the Roughton and Scholander syringe method. Two samples were collected from the vicinity of Richmond, Virginia; one sample consisted of 56 individuals of Columba livia, the domestic pigeon, and the other sample of 25 species comprised 67 birds. Statis- tically, no significant difference occurred between male and female adults in either the single or multispecies sample. But BOC in young pigeons (9.3 vol %) was significantly lower than that of adults (13.3 vol %). A correlation coefficient of -0.978 was determined for C. livia, and -0.988 for the multispecies sample when BOC/g of body weight was statistically compared with body weight. This factor may be impor- tant in aiding smaller birds, with a higher BOC/g of body weight, to maintain a higher metabolic rate than larger birds. Previous studies in fishes, frogs, turtles, and rats have also shown that the BOC per gram of body weight decreases with an increase in body weight.
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