Predation of Daurian redstarts offspring in nest boxes by the Oriental magpie-robin and tree sparrow.
Guixia WanHuahua ZhaoXizhu LiuLongwu WangWei LiangPublished in: Ecology and evolution (2023)
Birds select suitable nest sites for breeding to ensure their own and offspring's survival; however, they inevitably suffer some potential predation risk. We studied the breeding ecology of Daurian redstarts ( Phoenicurus auroreus ) by providing nest boxes for their breeding from March to August of 2022. We recorded the predation of both Daurian redstarts eggs or nestlings by Oriental magpie-robins ( Copsychus saularis ) and tree sparrow ( Passer montanus ). Oriental magpie-robin were recorded attacking a feeding female adult and depredating nestlings. After the nestling predation event, the Daurian redstarts abandoned the nest. This video evidence provide a better understanding of the potential predators of cavity-nesting birds.