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Sibling cooperation in boreal owls during the post-fledging dependence period
Marek Kouba1, Simona Stehlíková Sovadinová2,3, Filip Tulis2,4
1Department of Ethology and Companion Animal Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic. marekkouba8@gmail.com.
BMC Biology
|May 18, 2026
Summary
Boreal owl fledglings cooperate during the post-fledging dependence period (PFDP) through collective antipredation and negotiation for food. This sibling cooperation helps them survive while vulnerable to predators and dependent on parents.
Area of Science:
- Ethology
- Behavioral Ecology
- Ornithology
Background:
- Vertebrate siblings influence life histories and phenotypes.
- Avian begging behavior is studied in nestlings, but fledglings' begging during the post-fledging dependence period (PFDP) is under-researched.
- Four hypotheses explain sibling proximity during PFDP: competition, friendship, antipredation, and negotiation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sibling proximity and cooperation during the PFDP in boreal owls.
- To test hypotheses explaining sibling interactions during the PFDP.
Main Methods:
- Radio-tracked 123 boreal owl fledglings from 34 nests over 6 years in Czechia and Finland.
- Recorded daily inter-sibling distances throughout the PFDP.
- Analyzed distances in relation to environmental factors, age, number of siblings, and begging behavior.
Main Results:
- Inter-sibling distances varied between Czechia and Finland and changed with time, age, and number of siblings.
- Shorter distances were observed in Finland, supporting the cooperation-antipredation hypothesis (H3).
- Closer proximity of begging siblings supported the cooperation-negotiation hypothesis (H4).
Conclusions:
- Sibling cooperation occurs during the PFDP in boreal owls, aiding survival against predators.
- Inter-sibling distances are maintained through collective antipredation during roosting and negotiation for food at night.
- Sibling cooperation is a significant factor during the vulnerable PFDP.
Keywords:
Altruistic behaviourAnti-predation behaviourBegging behaviourBirds of preyHatching asynchronyRadio-telemetryRelatednessSelfish behaviourSibling competitionSibling negotiationMore Related Videos
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