Additional Data and Perspectives on Interspecific Aggression in the Common Loon, Gavia immer
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Published:2011-01-01
Issue:1
Volume:125
Page:61
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ISSN:0008-3550
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Container-title:The Canadian Field-Naturalist
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language:
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Short-container-title:Can Field Nat
Author:
Morton Martin L.,Pereyra Maria E.
Abstract
We witnessed the killing of a female Redhead (Aythya Americana) by a male Common Loon (Gavia immer). The wound was delivered into the abdomen from below, and death occurred because of a torn, hemorrhaging liver. This same Common Loon also threatened a female Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) with ducklings. We hypothesize that interspecific aggression by loons might be energetically costly but is sometimes adaptive because it deters predators.
Publisher
Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club
Subject
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics