Summary
The mass gain, feather growth and development of a stable body temperature in nestlings of three ground nesting passerines — the Skylark (Alauda arvensis), Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta) and Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) — were studied in the alpine meadows of the western Pyrenees. When left together in the nest, individual Skylark nestlings had a stable body temperature of about 39°C by day 5, Water Pipits by day 6–7 and Wheatears by day 7–8. Individual nestlings, taken out of the nest and exposed to low ambient temperatures, could maintain a high body temperature (90% of adult levels) at an age of between 7 and 8 days (Skylark), and 10 and 11 days (Water Pipit and Wheatear, respectively). Feather growth was fastest in Skylarks. As the young in this species sit in exposed nests, early growth of feathers may help to retain heat or exclude solar radiation depending on the ambient conditions. Body mass gain is fastest in Skylarks and slowest in Wheatears and Water Pipits, which correlates with their nesting mode. All three species attain half their fledging weight between 4.2 and 5.0 days, regardless how long they remain in the nest subsequently.
Zusammenfassung
Massenzunahme, Federwachstum und Entwicklung einer konstanten Körpertemperatur wurde bei den Nestlingen dreier bodenbrütender Singvögel in den alpinen Matten der westlichen Pyrenäen untersucht, nämlich bei Feldlerche, Wasserpieper und Steinschmätzer. Wenn die Jungen zusammen im Nest bleiben, erreichen Feldlerchen am 5., Wasserpieper am 6.–7. und Steinschmätzer am 7. bis 8. Tag eine konstante Körpertemperatur von etwa 39°C. Einzelne aus dem Nest genommene und niedriger Umgebungstemperatur ausgesetzte Junge können eine hohe Körpertemperatur (etwa 90% der ad.) im Alter von 7–8 (Feldlerche) bzw. von 10–11 Tagen (Wasserpieper, Steinschmätzer) aufrecht erhalten. Das Federwachstum war bei der Feldlerche am schnellsten. Da bei dieser Art die Jungen in offenen Nestern sitzen, dürfte ein frühes Federwachstum eine hohe Bedeutung für die Isolation des Körpers gegenüber der Umgebung besitzen. Die Zunahme der Körpermasse ist bei der Feldlerche rascher als bei Wasserpieper und Steinschmätzer. Die Hälfte der Körpermasse zum Zeitpunkt des Ausfliegens wird bei allen drei Arten im Alter von 4,2 bis 5,0 Tagen erreicht, unabhängig von der Länge der Nestlingszeit.
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Verbeek, N.A.M. Development of a stable body temperature and growth rates in nestlings of three ground nesting passerines in alpine tundra. J Ornithol 129, 449–456 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01644488
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01644488