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Article: Sex-biased kleptoparasitism of Hooded Mergansers by Ring-billed Gulls.
- Article from:
- Wilson Bulletin
- Article date:
- June 1, 1995
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1995 Wilson Ornithological Society. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Kleptoparasitism is common in many seabirds (Furness 1987; Duffy 1980, 1982), including gulls (Grace 1980, Spear and Ainley 1993). In Laridae, 23 of 88 species have been reported to be kleptoparasites (Brockman and Barnard 1979). Among Larus gulls differences in kleptoparasitism of conspecifics and other gull species appears to be related to age, with young being pirated more often (Burger and Gochfeld 1981). Some parasitic seabirds may attack certain hosts while ignoring others (Spear and Ainley 1993). Selective kleptoparasitism appears to be related to host species' size and relative abundance (Spear and Ainley 1993), and age and experience of the pirate (Burger and ...