Corvid predators may be attracted to parental alarm calls that trigger fledging of nestlings in Oriental Tits (Parus minor)

Abstract

Predators eavesdropping on prey communication is relatively little studied. Oriental Tits (Parus minor) use "jar" alarm calls toward snake predators near their nests. In response to this call, nestlings fly out of the nest if they are old enough to fledge. After fledging, chicks are vulnerable to predation by corvids. Here we present field observations consistent with the idea that corvids may be attracted to the "jar" alarm calls because these calls predictably trigger fledging of nestlings making them available as prey. Controlled field experiments should test this idea in the future. . © 2021 Wilson Ornithological Society. All rights reserved.