Resource defense and priority of access to food by the mate in pigeons

Abstract

When pigeons in a group compete for access to a spatially restricted food source, feeding by one bird may coincide with defense of the area around the source by that bird's mate. Defense while the mate is feeding varies between individuals, between trials, and between sexes, males defending more than females. Priority of access to food, as measured by the time required for 5 min of feeding, is highly correlated with the amount of defense performed by the mate. Satiation reduces but does not abolish defense. Birds within a mated pair have similar positions in the priority of access hierarchy. Pair bonds in pigeons may partially function as reciprocal coalition systems used in competition for resources.