Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) responses towards simulated territorial intrusion (STI) vary in strength during the non-breeding season — a matter of temperature and photoperiod?

What is it about?

Little is known about territoriality outside the breeding season in temperate bird species. We investigated the non-breeding territorial behavior in the Eurasian nuthatch (Sitta europaea), a small passerine bird found throughout the Palearctic and in Europe. Territorial responses were elicited with a simulated territory intrusion (playbacks of conspecific calls combined with a wooden model of nuthatch) in autumn, winter and during the pre-breeding season. Our research has revealed that territorial responses in nuthatches differed among the non-breeding season and were influenced by photoperiod (day length) in autumn and temperature in the pre-breeding season.

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