JUKEMA J, JUKEMA P & WERF P VAN DER (2012) Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes feeds nestlings of Great Tit Parus major. LIMOSA 85 (4): 182-184.
In the Frisian village of Oosterbierum an Eurasian Wren helped
a pair of Great Tits feeding their young in a nest box.
This kind of interspecific brood care has been seen before
elsewhere, with solitary Earasian Wrens also assisting species
like Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus, Coal Tit Periparus ater,
European Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca, Eurasian Tree
Sparrow Passer montanus and Common Linnet Carduelis
cannabina. The number of feeding flights was quantified for
both species (Table 1), with average feeding frequencies that
are similar to normal circumstances. What leads an Eurasian
Wren to this kind of behaviour is unclear.
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