Geographical differences in seasonal clutch size variation in multi‐brooded bird species

Abstract

The seasonal pattern of clutch size variation in birds varies among species. In single‐brooded bird species clutch sizes decline continuously with date from an early season maximum. In resident multi‐brooded species, clutch sizes first increase to a mid‐season maximum and then decrease again. Limited data for multi‐brooded migratory birds suggest that clutches in these species also show a continuous decline throughout the season, but it remains to be resolved whether this applies generally and whether migration adds a constraint to the system. We here report on a study of the Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisconducted using data collected by volunteers across most of its range. In the southern part of its range, where Eastern Bluebirds are largely year‐round residents, clutches initially increase, reach a mid‐season maximum and gradually decline later in the season. In the northern part of the range, where the majority of Eastern Bluebirds are migratory, clutch sizes decline continuously throughout the season. To determine whether seasonal changes in the clutch size of multi‐brooded species are determined by migratory behaviour of the population we compared our results with published data on the DunnockPrunella modularisand conclude that in multi‐brooded species migratory behaviour is not a sufficient condition for a continuous seasonal decline in clutch size, but it could be a necessary one. We propose two mechanisms for the pattern observed among multi‐brooded migrants: (i) a time or energy cost of migration, and (ii) a more abrupt increase in seasonal resources in spring at more northerly latitudes.