The influence of body condition and personality on nest defense behavior of Japanese tits (Parus minor)

Abstract When faced with a predator, parent birds have to choose between current and future breeding. Previous studies have shown that the body condition and personality of parents influence the trade-offs. However, whether body condition and personality influence an individual’s nest defense behavi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mingju E, Chao Shen, Nehafta Bibi, Yu Zhang, Li Liu, Xudong Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-05-01
Series:Animal Cognition
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-025-01964-z
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849704307545341952
author Mingju E
Chao Shen
Nehafta Bibi
Yu Zhang
Li Liu
Xudong Li
author_facet Mingju E
Chao Shen
Nehafta Bibi
Yu Zhang
Li Liu
Xudong Li
author_sort Mingju E
collection DOAJ
description Abstract When faced with a predator, parent birds have to choose between current and future breeding. Previous studies have shown that the body condition and personality of parents influence the trade-offs. However, whether body condition and personality influence an individual’s nest defense behavior has rarely been investigated. Here, we studied whether body condition and personality affect the nest defense behavior of incubating Japanese tits (Parus minor). Some females exhibited intense nest defense behavior when human-simulated intruders approached. Notably, individuals exhibiting high nest defense behavior had significantly shorter tail lengths compared to individuals who did not. In addition, bold individuals would exhibit higher nest defense behavior than those showing low defense responses. Furthermore, bold individuals consistently demonstrated stronger nest defense behavior compared to shy individuals, aligning with their proactive personality traits. This pattern highlights the potential role of individual behavioral differences in shaping anti-predator strategies.
format Article
id doaj-art-d90d8f2cf03244cb81877b974812f64e
institution DOAJ
issn 1435-9456
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Springer
record_format Article
series Animal Cognition
spelling doaj-art-d90d8f2cf03244cb81877b974812f64e2025-08-20T03:16:47ZengSpringerAnimal Cognition1435-94562025-05-012811610.1007/s10071-025-01964-zThe influence of body condition and personality on nest defense behavior of Japanese tits (Parus minor)Mingju E0Chao Shen1Nehafta Bibi2Yu Zhang3Li Liu4Xudong Li5School of Life Sciences, Changchun Normal UniversityCollege of Life Science, Shenyang Normal UniversityKey Laboratory for Forest Resources Conservation and Utilization in the Southwest Mountains of China, Ministry of Education /College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry UniversitySchool of Life Sciences, Changchun Normal UniversitySchool of Ecology and Environment, Baotou Teachers’ CollegeSchool of Ecology and Environment, Baotou Teachers’ CollegeAbstract When faced with a predator, parent birds have to choose between current and future breeding. Previous studies have shown that the body condition and personality of parents influence the trade-offs. However, whether body condition and personality influence an individual’s nest defense behavior has rarely been investigated. Here, we studied whether body condition and personality affect the nest defense behavior of incubating Japanese tits (Parus minor). Some females exhibited intense nest defense behavior when human-simulated intruders approached. Notably, individuals exhibiting high nest defense behavior had significantly shorter tail lengths compared to individuals who did not. In addition, bold individuals would exhibit higher nest defense behavior than those showing low defense responses. Furthermore, bold individuals consistently demonstrated stronger nest defense behavior compared to shy individuals, aligning with their proactive personality traits. This pattern highlights the potential role of individual behavioral differences in shaping anti-predator strategies.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-025-01964-zHissing callNest defensePersonalityBody conditionNest predation
spellingShingle Mingju E
Chao Shen
Nehafta Bibi
Yu Zhang
Li Liu
Xudong Li
The influence of body condition and personality on nest defense behavior of Japanese tits (Parus minor)
Animal Cognition
Hissing call
Nest defense
Personality
Body condition
Nest predation
title The influence of body condition and personality on nest defense behavior of Japanese tits (Parus minor)
title_full The influence of body condition and personality on nest defense behavior of Japanese tits (Parus minor)
title_fullStr The influence of body condition and personality on nest defense behavior of Japanese tits (Parus minor)
title_full_unstemmed The influence of body condition and personality on nest defense behavior of Japanese tits (Parus minor)
title_short The influence of body condition and personality on nest defense behavior of Japanese tits (Parus minor)
title_sort influence of body condition and personality on nest defense behavior of japanese tits parus minor
topic Hissing call
Nest defense
Personality
Body condition
Nest predation
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-025-01964-z
work_keys_str_mv AT mingjue theinfluenceofbodyconditionandpersonalityonnestdefensebehaviorofjapanesetitsparusminor
AT chaoshen theinfluenceofbodyconditionandpersonalityonnestdefensebehaviorofjapanesetitsparusminor
AT nehaftabibi theinfluenceofbodyconditionandpersonalityonnestdefensebehaviorofjapanesetitsparusminor
AT yuzhang theinfluenceofbodyconditionandpersonalityonnestdefensebehaviorofjapanesetitsparusminor
AT liliu theinfluenceofbodyconditionandpersonalityonnestdefensebehaviorofjapanesetitsparusminor
AT xudongli theinfluenceofbodyconditionandpersonalityonnestdefensebehaviorofjapanesetitsparusminor
AT mingjue influenceofbodyconditionandpersonalityonnestdefensebehaviorofjapanesetitsparusminor
AT chaoshen influenceofbodyconditionandpersonalityonnestdefensebehaviorofjapanesetitsparusminor
AT nehaftabibi influenceofbodyconditionandpersonalityonnestdefensebehaviorofjapanesetitsparusminor
AT yuzhang influenceofbodyconditionandpersonalityonnestdefensebehaviorofjapanesetitsparusminor
AT liliu influenceofbodyconditionandpersonalityonnestdefensebehaviorofjapanesetitsparusminor
AT xudongli influenceofbodyconditionandpersonalityonnestdefensebehaviorofjapanesetitsparusminor