Cooperative breeding in gray jays: Philopatric offspring provision juvenile siblings

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-1997

Abstract

We present evidence for cooperative breeding in Gray Jays (Perisoreus canadensis), a species characterized by delayed dispersal but long thought not to exhibit the life-history tactic of helping. Our findings to date suggest that the alloparental care of younger siblings by philopatric yearlings is confined to the postfledging period of nutritional dependence. We encourage other workers to investigate whether helping may be confined to this period in other semi-social species as well. Ongoing work is aimed at evaluating the fitness consequences of helping in our study population. © The Cooper Ornithological Society 1997.

Publication Title

Condor

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