Dunnock Behaviour and Social Evolution

Oxford Series in Ecology and Evolution

by Nicholas B. Davies

At first sight just a small brown bird, the dunnock's unobtrusive appearance belies its extraordinary behavior and mating patterns. This book gives a full account of the mating systems of the dunnock or hedge sparrow, Prunella modularis , which include pairs, a male with two females, two males with one female, and several males with several females. Detailed observations, elegant field experiments, and DNA fingerprinting are combined to show how this variable social organization arises from selfish individuals competing to maximize their own reproductive success. Further experiments reveal how the cuckoo may thwart the dunnock's parental efforts. David Quinn's exquisite drawings provide a visual summary of the bird's behavior. All students of ecology, evolution, and animal behavior will want to be familiar with this work, which addresses the wider issues of the influence of ecology on mating systems and the evolutionary significance of conflict within and between species. This
is the third volume in the Oxford Series in Ecology and Evolution, and the first in this series to address behavioral ecology.

286 pages, Paperback

First published September 24, 1992

About the author

Nick Davies (often N.B. Davies) is Professor of Behavioural Ecology at Cambridge University, and a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Reviews

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic work of behavioural ecology, Nick Davies details his study in a readable and engaging style. Well worth visiting for all, from those with an interest in birds to students of zoology and related disciplines.

[Keeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very detailed research into Dunnock sexual behaviours. Took me a long time to read as it contains a lot of scientific research methods and results which isn't a relaxing read when you already work in science and want to come home and relax your mind from it. A good reference and I learnt a lot!