Surrogate Feeding and Adoptive Behavior in Mourning Doves

Abstract

Both mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) parents incubate the eggs and feed and brood the young until fledged (Taylor 1941, Harris et al. 1963). Fledglings are fed consistently by at least one parent through 27 days posthatching (PH) but also begin feeding themselves at 17 days PH. After 16 days PH, feeding of fledglings is primarily the responsibility of the male parent (Hitchcock and Mirarchi 1984). Numerous reports of surrogate feeding (adults performing intraor interspecific feeding of juveniles other than, or in addition to, their own), helpers at the nest, and intraand interspecific adoption in avian species have been summarized by Skutch (1976). Among columbids, wood pigeons (Columba palumbus) (Murton and Isaacson 1962), white-winged doves (Z. asiatica) (Saunders 1944), rock doves (C. livia) (Levi 1957), and ringed turtle-doves (Streptopelia risoria) (Hansen 1971) have exhibited intraspecific feeding of unrelated juveniles. Additionally, surrogate feedings have occurred between mourning doves and other species of doves in both wild and captive situations (Neff 1945). To our knowledge, however, no reports of surrogate feedings or adoptive behavior among wild mourning doves have been published. Such information is necessary to answer questions about parent-fledgling interactions that are asked during the continuing controversy over hunting mourning doves in September.