SOCIAL HIERARCHY IN WINTER FLOCKS OF THE GREY-BREASTED SILVEREYE ZOSTEROPS LATERALIS (LATHAM)

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  • KIKKAWA Jiro
    Present address : Department of Zoology, University of Queensiand : Department of Zoology, University of New England

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Other Title
  • オーストラリア産メジロの越冬群にみられる順位制について
  • オーストラリア産メジロの越冬群にみられる順位制について〔英文〕
  • オーストラリアサン メジロ ノ エットウグン ニ ミラレル ジュンイセイ ニ ツイテ エイブン

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Abstract

Winter flocks of Silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis), consisting of different races, were studied at a feeding station in Armidale, N.S.W., in 1961 and in captivity in 1961 and 1962 to analyse social relations of the flock members. They showed the same agonistic displays as are known for the New Zealand race. Southern migratory birds tended to dominate local birds and males were likely to be more dominant than females, though neither of these tendencies was statistically significant at all times. Prior residence and social conditioning as modifiers of dominant-subordinate relations did not have lasting effects. The hierarchy derived from aggressive encounters was a linear type in the field and in cages. However, the order changed under experimental conditions. The hierarchy and pair relations of 10 captive birds were established initially in an aviary and each of four pairs selected was isolated in a small cage. Then the cages were connected to allow free movements and finally the birds were transferred back to the aviary. The behaviour of birds in group activity was in the winter phase throughout the experiment, but the induced site attachment in isolation produced territorial defence behaviour in some males for a short period when the cages were connected. However, territorial behaviour did not lead to a territorial arrangement in the cage spaces. This was considered to indicate the significance of social relations in establishing a breeding territory at the end of winter. The measures of dominance and aggressiveness are considered to represent different properties of behaviour ; the linearity of hierarchy reflects how rigid the dominance order is whereas the rate of reverse pecks within a hierarchy relates the degree of aggressiveness of individual birds to the dominance order. Aggressive encounters are the result of aggressive responses of one bird to different stimulus situations provided by another bird and further studies are needed for the understanding of motivation involved in agonistic behaviour.

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