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Cooperative Breeding in Birds

Learn how and why some birds rely on cooperation to get their genes into the next generation. This is the behavior of cooperative breeding, where birds team up to raise chicks in a group setting.

Episode:

110

Date:

February 1, 2025

Categories:

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Cooperative Breeding in Birds

Summary

In this episode, Ivan explores the fascinating world of cooperative breeding in birds, a system in which multiple adults help raise young in a group setting. He begins with an intriguing story from the Kalahari Desert, where Southern Pied-Babblers resort to “chicknapping” during droughts to bolster their flock size.

Ivan then broadens the discussion, examining the global distribution of cooperative breeding among bird species and the evolutionary mechanisms that drive this behavior. He introduces key scientific concepts, such as inclusive fitness and kin selection, to explain why some birds delay their own reproduction to assist relatives. Additionally, he covers various hypotheses, from ecological constraints to life history strategies, that influence the evolution of this social breeding system. Throughout the episode, listeners will discover real-world examples of cooperative breeders, including the Florida Scrub-Jay, Acorn Woodpecker, and Superb Fairy-Wren, each of which showcases the complexity and diversity of this strategy in different environments.‍

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