The capacity to escape from predators in Passer domesticus: an experimental study

Abstract

An experiment was performed simulating the effect of an aerial predator chasing house sparrows (Passer domesticus). For this, 82 sparrows were captured in an aviary using a sweep net and assigned a capture order. Morphological measurements were also taken. It was assumed that the capture order of the sparrows correlated positively with their flight ability. Older individuals and those with longer wings were captured later, while birds with longer tails were captured in the first trials. This suggests that predation could be a selective pressure on longer wings and shorter tails. The effect of age is probably due to the greater flight experience acquired by older sparrows. A relationship appeared between male badge size and flight ability, males with larger badge sizes having higher capture orders. Capture order did not correlate with sex, mass or tarsus length.