Reproductive Behavior of the Yellow-Billed Loon, Gavia adamsii
Sjölander S and Agren G. 1976. Reproductive Behavior of the Yellow-Billed Loon, Gavia adamsii. The Condor. 78(4):454-463
Breeding behavior of the Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii) was studied in northern Alaska. Pairs were highly territorial, using both displays and calls in territorial encounters. Copulations, preceded by very little courtship, took place on land. The nest site was chosen by the male. Both sexes engaged in limited nest- building, mostly at nest relief, throughout incubation (estimated to be 27 days). Both parents incubated the eggs. The young left the nest at hatching but were brooded on the nest or on shore during the first days. Both parents fed the young, mostly with fish but also with plants. All pairs had two eggs, but only in one case were two young reared. The observations revealed no major differences between G. adamsii and G. immer in reproductive and territorial behavior. They support the view that the Yellow-billed Loon is a subspecies of the Common Loon.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Sjölander, S; Agren, G
- Units
- ARCN , BELA , CAKR , GAAR , KOVA , NOAT
- Keywords
- Arctic, Behavior, Birds, Breeding Biology, Foraging, Habitat Use, Incubation, Loons, Nesting, Point Barrow, Territoriality, Waterfowl