Post-fledging behaviour and dispersal in American dippers

摘要: The post-fledging period is a critical stage in the avian life cycle since foraging skill development and dispersal decisions are known to influence survival reproductive success. I studied parental care, begging patterns natal fledgling American dippers ( C i n c h mexicanus). In contrast studies of nestlings, by fledglings varied with interannual variation provisioning rates but not hunger levels. Parents initially allocated food preferentially at highest intensity closest proximity did respond as approached independence age. Dispersal females, on average, leaving before males. Males that delayed beyond 12-14 days increased their likelihood surviving recruitment age gaining local breeding vacancy.