RECENT LITERATURE Edited by Jerome A

j. Field Ornithol., 60(2):264-285

RECENT LITERATURE Edited by Jerome A. Jackson

BANDING AND LONGEVITY (see also 39, 58) 1. Survival and natal dispersal of fledglingsof Tengmalm's Owl in relation to fluctuating food conditionsand hatching date. E. KorpimSkiand M. Lagerstr6m.1988. J. Anim. Ecol. 57:433-441.--In northern Europe, vole populations(Microtus and Cleth- rioaornys)are cyclicwith peaksevery 3-4 y. The volecycle strongly influences the breeding performanceof Tengmalm'sOwl (Aegoliusfunereus):nesting density, clutch size, and fledgling productionare low in poor vole yearsand much higher in goodvole years.Clutch size and fledgling productionare also influencedby the timing of nesting:early clutchesare larger and producemore fledglingsthan do late ones. This paper examines(1) whether there are differencesin survivaland natal dispersalof young producedin different phases of the vole cycle,and (2) whether hatchingdate affectssurvival and natal dispersaldistance of young during their first year of life. Data were collectedat nest boxesin western Finland from 1964-1985. Hatching dates were known for 4311 of the 5768 fleglingsbanded. Fifty-three of thesewere re-encountered after their first winter, including 41 recapturedas breedingadults. Survival and recruitment into the breedingpopulation of young producedduring the increasephase of the vole cycle was significantlyhigher than that of young producedduring peak, decrease,or low vole years.The vole cyclehad no significantinfluence on natal dispersaldistance. In contrastto the vole cycle,hatching date seemedto have no effecton survivalor recruitmentof young. Hatching date also had little effect on natal dispersaldistance. The improved survival of young producedduring the increasephase of the vole cycle suggestedthat food conditions during the post-fledglingand first winter periodswere important for the survival of young Tengmalm'sOwls. Althoughhatching date had no effecton fledglingsurvival, early laying might still enhancefitness because early clutchesproduce more fledglingsand becauseearly breedingmay enhanceadult survival by allowing them a longer post-breeding"break" before winter setsin.--Jeff Marks. 2. Dispersalof Tengmalm'sOwl Aegoliusfunereusin relationto prey availability and nesting success.G. A. Sonerud,R. Solheim,and K. Prestrud. 1988. Ornis Scand.19: 175-181.--This paper complement'sKorpimSki and Lagerstr/3m's(see Review 1) paper on vole/Tengmalm'sOwl relationships.The studyis basedon re-encounterswith 54 owls bandedas nestlingsand 32 femalesbanded as breedersin Norway from 1961-1987. Sonerud et al. ask (1) Does the vole cycleinfluence natal and female breedingdispersal? (2) Is there a sex bias in natal dispersal?(3) Do femalesdisperse farther after losinga nest than after nestingsuccessfully? (4) Is natal dispersalgreater than breedingdispersal? In general,the answersto these questionsare "yes." Most adult femalesdispersed <1 km during vole peaks and >5 km during vole lows. Natal dispersalfor both sexesalso was farther during vole lows than during vole peaks. Sex-biasednatal dispersal(with malesdispersing shorter distances than females)was evident only when a vole low occurred in the period between banding and recapture. Females dispersedsignificantly farther after nestpredation than after nestingsuccessfully. And finally, amongfemales, natal dispersalwas farther than breedingdispersal except during vole lows, when there was no difference in dispersaldistance between adult and juvenile females.- Jeff Marks. 3. Review of recoveriesof ringed White StorksCiconia ciconia in southernAfrica. T. B. Oatley and M. A.M. Rammesmayer.1988. Ostrich59:97-104.--White Storksbanded in Europe and recoveredin southernAfrica are mapped and discussed.Most were banded in Germany and Poland, and most were recoveredin Zimbabwe and easternSouth Africa. Causesand timing of mortality, and longevityare discussed.--Malcolm F. Hodges, Jr.

264 Vol.60, No. 2 RecentLiterature [265

MIGRATION, ORIENTATION, AND HOMING (see also 3, 27, 35) 4. 1986 fall hawk migration over Vicksburg, Mississippi.J. Battalio. 1987. Miss. Kite 17:17-22.--Diurnal raptor sightings(including vultures) made during an organized hawk watch over Vicksburg from Septemberthrough mid-November 1986 are reported. The most numerousspecies by far was the Broad-wingedHawk (Buteoplatypterus), with 7927 individualsseem--Malcolm F. Hodges,Jr.

POPULATION DYNAMICS

(see also 1, 2, 3, 58) 5. Spatial and temporal variation in Costa Rican fruit and fruit-eating bird abundance. D. J. Levey. 1988. Ecol. Monogr. 58:251-269.--Levey censusedfrugivorous understory birds and fruits in closedforest, forest gaps, and second-growthforest from November1982-October 1983. He foundthat fruits and birdsvary seasonallyand that they peak simultaneouslyin August-January. Crop sizeswere larger and fruit was generally more abundant in secondgrowth than the other two habitats, and fruit was more common in gaps than closedforest. Birds were most abundant in secondgrowth and least in closed forest. A big increasein frugivoresin October was (mostly) due to an influx of Nearctic migrants,but alsoincluded increases of local birds (probably)due to inter-altitudinalmove- ments.Molts occurredduring peak fruit abundance,but breedingwas independentof this period, and probablytied to insectabundance.--Malcolm F. Hodges,Jr.

NESTING AND REPRODUCTION

(see also 1, 2, 5, 26, 29, 37, 43, 52, 54, 58) 6. Parental care in Western Bluebirdsduring the nestlingand fledglingperiods. K. A. With. 1988. Sialia 10:123-129.--Twenty-one Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) nests in boxes were observedin northern Arizona during two breeding seasons.Parents made an averageof 12 feedingtrips/h to broodswith 5 nestlings,and 9 trips/h to broods with fewer than 5 nestlings.Adult malescontributed an averageof 50.4% of the total number of feedingtrips to nestlingsand 43% to fledglings.Parental feedingrates increasedfrom an averageof 3 visits/offspring/h during the nestlingperiod to 5 visits/offspring/hduring the fledglingperiod. Although thesedata suggestthat parentswere attemptingto meet increased energeticdemands of fledglings,other factorssuch as increasedfood availability and shorter commutingdistances by parentsmay also have influencedfeeding rates.--D. J. Ingold. 7. Egg variability and conspeclficnest parasitismin the Ploceusweaverbirds. S. Freeman. 1988. Ostrich 59:49-52.--Intraspecific egg variability is high in somePloceus weaverbirdsand may be explained as an evolvedresponse to either interspecificnest parasitism(INP) or conspecificnest parasitism(CNP). In order to test thesehypotheses, the author quantified clutch sizesand severalparameters of egg variability in 29 weaverbird speciesfrom museumcollections. In two species,P. intermediusand P. rubiginosus,at least one clutch was found that was more than twice the mean size for the speciessampled, inferring CNP. In addition,egg variability and clutcheswith non-matchingeggs increased in colonial-nestingspecies (which would be predictablymore susceptibleto CNP). Con- versely,the trend was lessnoticeable in species(whether solitary or colonialnesting) known to be parasitizedby Chrysococcyxcuckoos. These data suggestthat conspecificparasitic femalesmay be constrainedby their ability to find appropriatehost nests.--D. J. Ingold. 8. Use of artificial nest cavities along Ohio interstate highways by bluebirds (Sialia sialis)and mice (Peromyscussp.). M. Hsu and M. J. Humpert. 1988. Ohio J. Sci. 88:151-154.--This studyexamined the successof drilling a seriesof nestcavities in wooded fencepostsalong Ohio interstatehighways as a meansto increaseEastern Bluebird (Sialia szalis)populations. Of 296 cavitiesexamined, 52% were unoccupiedin 1985 and 24.9% in 1986. Mice (Peromyscussp.) occupiedmost of the cavities,increasing from 40% in 1985 to 62.6% in 1986. Eastern Bluebirds occupiedonly 2% of the cavitiesin 1985 and 3.7% in 266] RecentLiterature J.Field Ornithol. Spring 1989

1986, while other birds used the remaining cavities.In addition to the low rate of nest occupancyby birds, predation rates appeared to be relatively high at the occupiedsites. Despite the very poor successof this project,recommendations were providedto increase the use of thesecavities by bluebirds.These recommendationsincluded removal of mouse nestsin early spring prior to the return of bluebirds,installation of predator guards to improve nest successand continuedmaintenance of only thosecavities located in suitable habitats.--Bruce G. Peterjohn. 9. Male parental care and monogamy in Snow Buntings. B. E. Lyon, R. D. Montgomerie, and L. D. Hamilton. 1987. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol.20:377-382.--Parental care in Snow Buntings(Plectrophenax nivalis) was observedduring 1982 and 1983. In 1983, 14 males were removed creating widows. Comparisonsbetween the years indicate the significanceof male parental care. Paired males and females did not significantlydiffer in feeding visit rates. Widows had a higher feedingvisit rate than the controlfemales, but still did not deliver as much food as the control pairs. Reproductive successwas higher in control pairs (2.7 chicks vs. 4.5 chicks). The influence of male parental care on the evolutionof monogamyis discussed."Male Snow Buntings are useful in that they enhancefemale reproductivesuccess but they are not essentialfor the rearing of at leastsome offspring, even in a year of poor food availability."-- Lori A. Willimont. 10. Socialityand cooperativebreeding of Red-cockadedWoodpeckers, Picoides borealis. M. R. Lennartz, R. G. Hooper, and R. F. Harlow. 1987. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 20:77-88.--Thirty Red-cockadedWoodpecker groups on the Francis Marion National Forest in South Carolina were studiedfrom 1976-1982 to (1) determinethe demographic structureof groups, (2) identify the role helpers play in reproductiveactivities, and (3) investigatethe selectivepressures promoting socialityand helping behavior. Their observationsconfirmed that the speciesis monogamous.Twenty of the 30 groups observedhad helpers during at least one nesting season.The number of helpers was 1-3, mostcommonly only one. Helpers were usuallymales 1 or 2 yr old and progenyof one or both membersof the breedingpair. Birds that servedas helperslimited their associationto their natal group. Averaged over 5 years, groupswith helpersproduced significantly more fledglingsthan did unassistedpairs. Evidencesuggested that the increaseresulted directly from the actionof helpers.Because Red-cockadedWoodpecker helpers are related to the young they help, kin selectionand indirectfitness are discussedin relationto the evolutionof helpingbehavior in this species.-- Lori A. Willimont. 11. Cooperativebreeding in Purple Gallinules:the role of helpers in feeding chicks. L. A. Hunter. 1987. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol.20:171-177.--The feedingof chicks from a populationof cooperativelybreeding Purple Gallinules (Porphyrulamartinica) was monitoredfrom January 1981-May 1982 in CostaRica. The chickshatched asynchronously and left the nest 1-2 days after the last chick hatched.They remainedtogether away from the nest waiting for food to be broughtto them or following feedersand begging.Helpers beganbringing food to the nest as soonas the first chickhatched. All birds in the breeding group over the age of 2 monthsserved as feedersand fed the chicksregularly. Generally one chick was fed per visit, occasionally2-4 chicksper visit. Helpers increasedthe amountof foodbeing fed to chicks.In fooddelivery rates, number of visits, and time spent feeding chicks,breeders expended more effort than helpersand olderhelpers expended more effort than youngerones. Chicks in groupswith helpersreceived more food and were accompaniedfor longer periodsof time than were chicksin groups without helpers; either or both of these factors may have led to increasedchick survival.-- Lori A. Willimont. 12. Distribution and breeding biology of the African Skimmer on the Upper and Middle Zambezi River. M.P. Coppinger,G. D. Williams, and G. L. Maclean. 1988. Ostrich 59:85-96.--The authorslooked for African Skimmers(Rynchops flavirostris) and evidenceof their breedingin 1986 and 1987 along 1550 km of the Zambezi River in southern Vol.60, No. 2 RecentLiterature [267

Africa, excluding that within the borders of Angola. Thirty-five breeding colonieswere found. Eggs measuringon average39.6 mm by 28.4 mm were laid from August through Octoberon bare sand in clutchesof mostly 2-3. Both parentscared for the young, which stayedin the nest for two days, and were almost constantlyshaded by the parents.The skimmer population of the area surveyedis estimatedat 1428 birds. Cooling strategies, distractiondisplays, breeding habitats, and threatsto this populationare discussed.--Mal- colm F. Hodges,Jr. 13. Sexual differencesin reproductive effort: time-activity budgets of monogamous Killdeer, Charadrius vociJ:erus.D. H. Brunton. 1988. Anim. Behar. 36:705-717.- Sexual differencesin mating effort and parental care, as well as the necessityof biparental care, are often usedto explain the evolutionof mating systems.However, few studieshave investigatedthese issuesthroughout the period of dependencein a precocialbird. Male Killdeer in this studyallocated more time than femalesto mating effort and obtainedmore extra-pair copulations.Female Killdeer spent lesstime in parental effort than males. Bruntonprovides evidence that the sexualdifference in parentaleffort is a resultof females being limited by time available for foraging,while males are not. First, the time-constraint on femalesis apparently causedby an energydeficit accruedduring egg-laying(the costof producingone egg is 262% of a female'sbasal metabolic rate). Second,during moststages, femalesspent more time foragingthan did males,and males spentmore time loafing than did females.Third, for females,foraging time was negativelycorrelated with time spenton parental care (r = -0.54, P < 0.001). However, males maintained constantforaging rates throughoutthe nestingattempt while increasingtime spenton reproductiveeffort from 28% during pre-laying to 73% during late incubation.Thus, maleswere able to increaserepro- ductiveeffort at the expenseof loafingtime, while females,operating under an energydeficit, could only increasereproductive effort at the expenseof foragingtime. Removal experimentsdemonstrated that both experimentallydeserted males and females increasedparental effort over that of undesertedparents, but were unable to rear a brood to fledging.Thus, biparental care appearsto be essentialin Killdeer and is likely to favor a monogamousmating system.This study should call attention to the substantial,but frequently overlooked,costs of parental care in precocialspecies, and to their influenceon the evolution of mating systems.--SusanL. Earnst.

BEHAVIOR (see also 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 30, 32, 41, 42, 44, 46, 47, 58) 14. Falsifiability and the information centre hypothesis. D. W. Mock, T. C. Lamey, and D. B. A. Thompson.1988. Ornis Scand.19:231-248.--This paper reviews much of the enormousliterature on avian communalroosting as it pertainsto Ward and Zahavi's (Ibis 115:517-534, 1973) "information center" hypothesis(ICH). Mock et al. argue that "... the hypothesiscontains important hidden assumptions... and that very few of the studiesclaiming to documentthe ICH have made a strongcase." Using data from a nestingcolony of solitary-foragingGreat Blue Herons (Ardeaherodias) and flock-foragingGreat Egrets (Casmerodiusalbus), Mock et al. tested5 predictionsof the ICH: (1) unsuccessfulbirds shouldfollow conspecificswhen leavingthe colony,(2) unsuccessfulbirds shouldfollow any "ecologicallysimilar" bird specieswhen leavingthe colony, (3) highly successfulbirds shouldbe followed more often than unsuccessfulindividuals, (4) unsuccessfulbirds should spend more time in the colonyper visit, and (5) unsuccessfulbirds shouldfly at higher altitudeswhen leavingthe colony.For both species,none of these predictionswere supportedby the data. Herons that use stealthto capture fish are probably poor candidatesfor supportof the ICH. The strongestavailable data are for vultures,swallows, and Ospreys(Pandion hal- iaetus),which have documentedmost of the componentsteps of the ICH. Despitethe data from thesespecies, "widespread acceptance of the ICH is still premature."--Jeff Marks. 15. Song and plumage effects on aggressivedlsplay by the European Robin (Erithacus rubecula). D. F. Chantrey and L. Workman. 1984. Ibis 126:366-371.--The traditionalunderstanding that the red breastof a male EuropeanRobin elicitsan aggressive 268] RecentLiterature J.field Ornithol. Spring 1989 displayfrom conspecific territory-holders has been altered to includethe song of the intruding male.By observingthe reactionsof territory-holdersto modelbirds Chantrey and Workman found that songelicits aggressivenessregardless of the color of the intruder's breast.The researchersemphasize that singingby an intruder is a sign of aggressiveness.Males that feedin neighbors'territories do not singand flee when threatened.These data suggestthat robin aggressiondepends on the red breastof the intrudingbird and alsothe bird's song.- Laura McMahon. 16. Territorial behaviour and breeding numbers in Norwegian Willow Ptar- migan: a removal experiment. H. C. Pedersen.1988. Ornis Scand.19:81-87.--Pedersen assessedthe influenceof territoriality on breedingdensity of Willow Ptarmigan(Lagopus/. /agopus)by removing14 territorial males from a 2-kin2 study area in central Norway. Ptarmigan were shot during the winter of 1985-1986 and breedingdensity measured the following spring. Body size, condition(body mass/winglength), reproductivestatus, and mating successof replacementswere comparedwith data obtainedfrom same-ageresidents over the previousseven yr. Removal of residentsdid not reducethe breedingdensity of male ptarmigan;in fact, breedingdensity increased following the removals,and all winter vacancieswere occupied by replacements.Young males made up a higherproportion of the replacements(91%) than of the removedresidents (27%). Removedbirds had significantlylonger wings than did replacements,but condition,reproductive status, and mating successwere similar between residentsand replacements. Pedersenconcludes that territorial behaviordoes limit breedingdensity in this population of ptarmigan,and that body size might be an importantfactor in territory acquisition.He alsosuggests that differencesin the "quality" of residentand replacementmales "... were of little importancewhen hensselected breeding partners."--Jeff Marks. 17. Female Pied Flycatcherschoose territory quality and not male characteristics. R. V. Alatalo, A. Lundberg, and C. Glynn. 1986. Nature 323:152-153.--Female Pied Flycatchers(Ficedula hypoleuca) prefer malesthat arrive in nestingareas early. Early malestend to be olderand blacker.Authors sought to experimentallydifferentiate between females'nonexclusive alternatives of choosingbetween either male or territorial quality. They did this by randomly placing nest-sites(pairs of nest boxeswithin 5-10 m of each other, presumablyin the same habitat). Subsequentpairs of nest boxeswere not set out until previoussites were occupied.In this way, femaleschose males that were randomly spacedthroughout the woodlot:"No arriving male had a choiceof territoriesbecause only a singlevacant site existedat any one time. In this way we distributed37 malesat random sitesrelative to territory quality in the four woodlots."The experimentalprocedure also manipulatedthe timing of nest-siteoccupation by individualmales. Females, that had settled beforelast males,were removed,then the order in which femalesoccupied territories was recorded.Females visited several male territoriesbefore mating and "clearlychose between males." In two of four woodlots,all females were then removed, and a secondround of female occupationwas recorded.Settling orders of the two setsof femaleswere correlated, suggestinga consistentsequence of femalechoice. Analyses of "nest sight" featuresrevealed that femalestended to initially selectnest-sites high on thick trunks in low tree-density (birch) areas. Female settlement order did not correlate with either male arrival order or with male characteristics(age, coloration,wing and tarsuslength, mass, song repertoire, song phrase length). Another aspectof territory quality was shown to influencefemale choice:larger holed (older) nest-boxeswere given to successfulmales and smaller holed newer oneswere givento previouslyunsuccessful males. All femaleswere removed.During resettlementby females,previously unsuccessful males were matedearlier than previously successfulmales. This interestingdemonstration of female choiceinvolves a habitat feature that wasnot a factorin the previousexperiment. The potentialeffects of removingso many females(particularly early ones)and of manipulatingthe timing of males' nest-siteoccu- pationsleave unansweredquestions, as doesthe apparentlack of reproductiveutility of male attributes,such as songrepertoire and coloration.--W. A. Montevecchi. 18. Social behaviour of the Southern Giant Petrel. V. Bretagnolle.1988. Ostrich 59:116-125.--Bretagnolleobserved Southern Giant Petrels(Macronectes giganteus) in Ant- Vol.60, No. 2 RecentLiterature [269

arctica from December 1984 through February 1986. Here he summarizestheir social behaviors,describing elementary acts, vocalizations, and socialdisplays. "Stimulus-response" sequencesof behaviorswere analyzedaccording to sex,behavior type, and distancebetween interactingbirds. Meanings were ascribedto behaviors,and comparisonsmade to the behavior of other membersof the Procellariiformes.--Malcolm F. Hodges, Jr. 19. Orientation of chick embryos in static magnetic fields. K. Saali and J. ju- utilainen. 1988. Ann. Zool. Fennici 25:187-189.--Chicken eggswere incubatedin a vertical positionwith the air spacedown. After 70-75 h the pointed end of the egg was openedand the orientationof the embryodetermined with a transparentcompass. Embryos were oriented non-randomly.In a natural magneticfield most embryoshad a mean angle of orientation of 110ø with a second,less defined cluster of embryosaround 210ø-300ø. In an artificial field that rotated the horizontalcomponent of the magneticfield -90 ø, the embryoshad an angle of orientation of 31ø . Not all embryosorient, however. The authors suggestthat the embryo,which generatesa weak electriccurrent alongthe primitive streak,acts as a magnetic dipole with the north-south axis perpendicular to the embryo's head-tail axis. Because embryosthat orient in unusualdirections develop normally, the functionof orientationto the geomagneticfield is unclear.--Edward H. Burtt, Jr.

ECOLOGY

(see also 5, 12, 17, 34, 35, 36, 43, 44, 48, 49, 58) 20. Fish-flamingo-planktoninteractions in the Peruvian Andes.S. H. Hurlbert, W. Loayza, and T. Moreno. 1986. Limnologyand Oceanography31:457-468.--The authors quantifiedzooplankton and flamingo(Phoenicopterus chilensis) populations of 20 lakes(3700- 4700 m) in the altiplano of southernPeru. Twelve of theselakes had fish: 11 of them had cyprinodonts(Orestias spp.), sevenhad introducedrainbow trout (Salmogairdnieri), and 3- 4 had introducedArgentinian silverside(Basilichthys bonarzenszs); the remainingeight lakes had no fish. Lakes with fish had sparsezooplankton populations dominated by small mi- crocrustaceans(cyclopoid copepods and chydoridcladocerans), whereas fishless lakes were shallower,more saline, and had abundantzooplankton dominated by largermicrocrustaceans (calanoidcopepods, daphnid cladocerans),and brine shrimp (Artemiasalina). P. chilensiswas either absentor scarceon lakeswith fish, apparentlydue to reducedfood supply,but presentin large numberson fishlesslakes, where foodsupply was greater.Fish presencewas correlatedwith lake depth and salinity;high salinity and shallowness(and indirectlyperiodic drying) tendedto be negativelycorrelated with fishpresence, but causality was difficult to establishas zooplanktonspecies were also affectedby thesevariables. Fla- mingoabundance tended to be positivelycorrelated with zooplanktonabundance, but vegetation acted as a refuge for zooplankton in some lakes with fish, thus increasing food availability for the flamingos.On the other hand, in lakes with low countsof zooplankton, the flamingosdid not feed in the shallow areas where they frequently waded, but in the deep areas of the lakes, actually swimming to reach for presumablyconcentrated food resources. Based on this evidence,Hurlbert and co-workers suggestedthat the distribution and abundanceof flamingosin altiplano lakes (and perhaps in South America) is determined primarily by the distributionof fish, with which the flamingoscompete for invertebrate prey. If so,introduction of exoticfish may becomean importantthreat for P. chilensis.This studyprovides an interestingexplanation of the differentabundances reached by flamingos in lakes that look similar in all general aspects.--Fabian M. Jaksic. 21. Calculating and miscalculating density: the role of habitat geometry. Y. Haila. 1988. Ornis Scand. 19:88-92.--This thoughtful review stressesthe importanceof using an ecologicallymeaningful size and shapeof samplingarea when calculatingbird densities.It includesa discussionof the superiorityof densityvs. presence/absencedata in evaluating effectsof habitat fragmentationon bird distribution and also identifiesarea- related problemsin assessingdensity compensation and the edgeeffect. The paper is laced with examplesof studiesthat have interpreted density estimatesimproperly. All of this makes for interestingreading.--Jeff Marks. 270] RecentLiterature J.Field Ornithol. Spring 1989

22. Ice edges and seabird occurrencein Antarctica. W. R. Fraser and D. G. Ainley. 1986. Bioscience36:258-263.--From the human vantage point, the sea may seem both two-dimensionaland uniform at its surface.Fraser and Ainley argue persuasivelythat to a seabird,it is anything but. This paper reviewsthe evidence(rapidly accumulating)that distinctseabird communities orient rather preciselyto distinctareas of sea. To the birds, the sea is quite heterogeneous.The authorsdiscuss two antarctic seabirdcommunities: that of the packice, and that of the openseas surrounding Antarctica. Pack ice may be unsuitable for soaringseabirds because the presenceof the ice altersthe soaringenvironment. Beyond aerodynamics,however, it is unclear how birds orient to specificareas of ocean.The authors ask if it is direct availability of prey or particular prey typesor physicalfeatures (associated with prey richness) to which the seabirdsorient? The overall conclusionrests on the hypothesisthat foodis the major variable in determiningseabird distribution, and that food resourcesare patchily distributed in the world's oceans,thus so are seabirds.Seabird as- semblagesare organizedboth by physicalconditions (as they relate to dynamicsoaring) and prey availability.--John C. Kricher. 23. Habitat choice of Vermilion Flycatchers wintering in Mississippi.W. M. Davis, J. T. Fulton, and G. E. Alexander. 1987. Miss. Kite 17:14-16.--The authorsdescribe habitatsused by wintering Vermilion Flycatchers(Pyrocephalus rubinus) in westernMis- sissippi,where the speciesis of casualoccurrence.--Malcolm F. Hodges,Jr. 24. Bird use of eastern Kentucky surface mines. D. B. Claus, W. H. Davis, and W. McComb. 1988. Kentucky Warbler 64:39-43.--This is an annotatedlist of birds seen at two strip mines incidentalto a study of Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) during spring and summer1987. Thirty-three bird specieswere observed.Plant speciespresent and general topographyare also discussed.--JeromeA. Jackson. 25. Someaspects of hawk and small mammal ecologyin southeastAlabama. D. J. Drennan. 1988. Alabama Birdlife 35:l-8.--This 18-mo study in a 1050 ha area of the lower PiedmontPlateau of Alabama involvedcensusing of smallmammals by trappingand diurnal raptorsby strip counts.Nine mammal specieswere captured,the dominantspecies being the cotton rat (Sigmodonhispidus). Mammals were said to be most abundant in old field habitats,although statistical tests suggested no significantdifferences in numbersamong habitats.The dominant raptor presentwas the Red-tailed Hawk (Buteojamaicensis), and this speciesis treated separatelyin tables.Six other raptorsare lumped as "other hawks" (includingthe American Kestrel, Falcosparvarius). The author found no correlationbetween "hawk" numbersand small mammal numbersper trap night. Although there was some "number-crunching,"discussion and meaningfulresults are generallylacking.--Jerome A. Jackson.

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMIC ORNITHOLOGY

(see 8, 16, 33, 44, 52, 58)

CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (see also 12, 20, 33, 52, 58) 26. Organochlorinesand mercury in eggsof coastalterns and heronsin Cali- fornia, USA. H. M. Ohlendorf,T. W. Custer,R. W. Lowe, M. Righey,and E. Cromartie. 1988. Colonial Waterbirds 11:S5-94.--Observations of chick mortality in Caspian Terns (Sternacaspia) and decliningnumbers and chickdevelopmental abnormalities in Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias)prompted the inclusionof Blair Island, San FranciscoBay, Cali- fornia in a studyof organochlorineand mercurycontamination. Caspian Terns from Elkhorn Slough in Monterey Bay were also studied. Caspian Terns and Black-crownedNight- Herons (Nycticoraxnycticorax) were the principle speciesstudied because of their large numbers,and other tern and heron specieswere examinedfor comparison.Collected eggs were analyzed for eggshellthickness, DDT, DDE, DDD, Dieldrin, PCBs, and six other organochlorineresidues. Random samplesof eggswere collectedfor early and late season, as well as eggsthat failed to hatch, or were dumpedoutside the nest or abandoned.Blair Vol.6o, No. 2 RecentLiterature [271

Island DDE sampleswere significantlyhigher in CaspianTerns than in other species,but no significantdifferences were foundamong species for any otherorganochlorine residues, some of which were in such low concentrationsthat comparisonswere not meaningful. DDE, PCBs and trans-nonachlorwere the most frequently occurringresidues, and the highestDDE concentrationwas in a Black-crownedNight-Heron egg from a nestcontaining 3 eggs,all dented,none of whichhatched. Concentrations of DDE werenegatively correlated with eggshellthickness in Black-crownedNight-Herons. Measurable mercury concentrations were found in all eggsof CaspianTerns and night-herons,and were highestin the tern eggs. The authorsdocument the occurrenceof potentiallyharmful levelsof organochlorineson the California coast.They suggestthat DDT foundin sometern and heroneggs may have comefrom the MontereyBay area.Wintering locality differences may accountfor someof the observedconcentration differences among species. The San FranciscoBay CaspianTerns winter in westernMexico, while Black-crownedNight-Heron are apparentlynon-migratory. The authors consideredthe DDE contaminantsmost important becausethey were found in 10% of the Black-crownedNight-Heron eggsat levelshigher than thoseassociated with impaired reproductivesuccess.--William E. Davis, Jr. 27. Conservationstrategy for migratory species.J.P. Myers, R. I. G. Morrison, P. Z. Antas,B. A. Harrington,T. E. Lovejoy,M. Sallaberry,S. E. Sennet,and A. Tarak. 1987. Am. Sci. 75:19-26.--This article reviews the migration ecologyof long distance shorebirdmigrants, focusing on their unique vulnerabilityto habitat deterioration.Species such as the Red Knot (Calidriscanutus) and Sanderling(Calidris alloa) may spendup to sevenmonths of the yearin migration.As theymigrate they congregate in massesat relatively few traditional stagingareas, such as Copper River Delta in Alaska, Grays Harbor in Washington,Delaware Bay, and parts of the Bay of Fundy. Theseareas, many of which are heavilyused by humans,provide essential lipid-rich foodsthat enablethe shorebirdsto continuetheir migrations.A dramaticexample is the springmigration along the shoresof Delaware Bay, when Red Knots,Sanderlings, and Ruddy Turnstones(Arenaria interpres) feed on the eggsof horseshoecrabs, whose synchronized breeding occurs at preciselythe time when the shorebirdsare migrating north. Any disruption to this ecosystemat that criticaltime would be potentiallydisasterous to the migratingshorebirds. Delaware Bay is heavilytrafficked by oil tankersand the possibilityof a major oil spill is everpresent. After reviewingmigrant shorebirdlife history characteristics,staging areas where shorebirds congregate,energy requirements and timingin migration,and human-causedhabitat threats, the authorspresent a "conservationstrategy" for preservationof the essentialhabitats along the migratoryroutes. The essenceof the strategyis the creationof the WesternHemisphere Shorebird ReserveNetwork (WHSRN). Over 90 essentialsites along migration routeshave been identified, divided between hemisphericand regional sites. Hemispheric sites serve more than 250,000 birds, or at least 30% of the flyway population for a given species. Regionalsites have more than 20,000 birds, or 5% of the flyway population.The authors acknowledgethat many sitesare in heavyuse by humansand suchuse is unlikelyto change. Suchareas require monitoringto detectany changesadverse to migrant shorebirds,while suchchanges might be correctable.Fortunately, someshorebird staging areas are under protection.The overall goal is to protectas much shorebirdhabitat as possible,including restoringdamaged areas. Active management is often called for in additionto mereprotection. The article illustrateswell the need for integratedglobal conservationefforts.--John C. Kricher. 28. Restoringthe Bald Eagle. T. Simons,S. K. Shetrod,M. W. Collopy,and M. A. Jenkins.1988. Am. Sci.76:253-260.--The conceptof "trickledown" conservation focuses on reintroductionand/or preservationof top carnivore"glamour species" whose conservation assuresadequate habitat for many other speciesless notable in the public eye. Simonset al. detail the reintroductionof the Southern Bald Eagle throughout the southeast.Using eggsobtained from Floridanests, the researcherssuccessfully reared chicks and reestablished the birdsby hacking.Bald Eaglesare philopatricand thusreluctant to colonizenew habitats eventhough such areas may be ecologicallysuitable. For this reason,it is doubtfulthat Bald Eagleswill "naturally" expandinto areasfrom which they havebeen extirpated. Hacking, 272] RecentLiterature J.Field Ornithol. Spring 1989

however,can be a successfultool in reintroductionbecause it involvesimprinting site fidelity in the introduced birds. Eagles are evolutionary K-selected species.Population models indicate that such speciesare particularly sensitiveto adult survival rates and less so to juvenile survival.Variation in annual reproductivesuccess is generallytolerated in K-selected species.Therefore, healthy populationsmay be usedas sourcesfor eggsfor artificial propagation, and reintroductionmust be accompaniedby vigorouseducational efforts to protect adults from human disturbance. Simons et al. also point out the need to consider local population geneticsin the reintroduction process,to assure that racial adaptation is not compromised.This is an importantpaper that showsthe needfor highly collaborativeefforts in speciesrestoration. This successfulprogram should serve as a model of how ecological theory can be put to practice in conservationbiology.--John C. Kricher.

PHYSIOLOGY (see also 1:3, 58) •29. Incubatingfemale passerinesdo not let the egg temperaturefall below the "physiologicalzero temperature"during their absencesfrom the nest.S. Haftorn. 1988. Ornis Scand. 19:97-110.--Most of what is known about embryonicdevelopment in birds comesfrom data on domesticchickens. These data indicatethat the temperaturerange for optimum developmentof embryosis narrow, lying between37-38 C. Chicken embryosdo not survivecontinuous temperatures above 40.5 C nor below 35 C. The "physiologicalzero temperature" (PZT), below which embryonicdevelopment ceases, is consideredto lie be- tween25-27 C. Yet, embryoscan withstandtemperatures well below PZT for "fairly long periods."Very little data on PZT are availablefor wild passetines.Toward filling this gap, Haftorn posesthe question "How far does the female allow the egg temperature to fall before she returns to the nest and continuesthe interrupted incubation?" Using a thermistoror thermocoupleplaced 1 mm belowthe eggsurface, egg temperatures were recorded at 1-5 min intervals at 42 nestsof 14 speciesof passetines.The statisticof interestwas the mean minimum egg temperature(MET) measuredwhile the female was off the nest (only femalesincubated for all speciesstudies). Regardless of ambienttemper- ature, femalesusually returned to the nest and resumedincubation before eggs had cooled to "suggested"PZT. The mostcomplete data sets(14 nestsof 6 species)yielded an average MET of 30.4 C, whereasthe averagevalue for all 42 nestswas 31.2 C. Haftorn suggests that the PZT of passefineeggs lies closeto that of domesticchickens.--Jeff Marks. :30. Testosteroneand aggressionin birds. J. C. Wingfield,G. F. Ball, A.M. Dufty, Jr., R. E. Hegner, and M. Ramenofsky.1987. Am. Sci. 75:602-608.--Testosteronelevels and aggressivebehavior tend to be stronglycorrelated in birds (and other vertebrates).This articlereviews the complexityof the testosterone-aggressioninteraction. Environmental cues suchas changesin daylengthor the presenceof other males stimulatethe anterior pituitary to secreteluteinizing hormone, which stimulates testosteroneproduction at a time when male birds are competingto secureterritories and/or mates, and thus when aggressive behaviorwould likely be adaptive.In socialhierarchies, dominant males tend to havehigher plasma levelsof testosteronethan do subordinatemales. Polygynousmales tend to have higher testosteronelevels than do monogamousmales. Once territories and dominance hierarchiesare established,testosterone levels tend to decline. However, the presenceof a strange male can immediately induce aggression,followed by (rather than precededby) increasein testosterone.Thus, testosteronedoes not alwaysinduce aggression, but sometimes followsfrom it. In sucha case,testosterone may be playing a facilitativerole for the neurons involvedduring extendedperiods of aggression.To do this, testosteronemay act directly and rapidly on the central nervoussystem through membranereceptors, but sucha mech- anism is yet unconfirmed.Though testosteronehas been shownto influenceformation of songcontrol nuclei in the brain, its exact physiologicalrole in aggressivebehavior is not yet totally understood.--John C. Kricher. :31. Energyexpenditure during incubation in four speciesof sub-Antarcticbur- rowing petrels. C. R. Brown. 1988. Ostrich59:67-70.--Brown measuredincubating met- abolicrate (IMR) in four speciesof burrowingpetrels: White-chinned (Procellaria aequi- Vol.60, No. 2 RecentLiterature [273

noctialis),Great-winged (?terodroma macroptera ), Kerguelan(Lugensa brevirostris), and Blue (Halobaenacaerulea) petrels. He measuredoxygen consumption by placing birds and eggs in metabolic chambersin the laboratory; for two species,he also measuredbasal metabolic rates (BMRs) by placingnonbreeding birds in the samechambers. BMR data for the other two specieswere available from a previous study. Brown contendedthat, although the differencesbetween BMRs and IMRs for each specieswere not significantlydifferent, that IMR tended to be lower. Judging from the low sample sizes, high standard errors, and closenessof IMR/BMR ratios to unity, it may be wisestto say only that the two rates are equal until further study. The author theorizesthat maintenanceof IMR at basal levels may allow thesebirds to conserveenergy during long incubation bouts.--Malcolm F. Hodges,Jr.

MORPHOLOGY AND ANATOMY

(see 58)

PLUMAGES AND MOLTS (see also 5, 37, 38, 58) 32. Birdsdoing. it the octupusway: fright moulting and distraction of predators. ,•. LindstrSmand J.-A. Nilsson.1988. Ornis Scand. 19:165-166.--When I read the first clauseof the title, I thought this paper was about copulatorybehavior. It isn't. "Fright molt" (or "Schreckmauser")is the commonterm for the simultaneousshedding of feathers during threateningsituations. This form of autotomyis thoughtto be an antipredatorstrategy in which an attackingpredator is left with nothing in its grasp but a bunch of feathers. This paper suggestsan additionalway in which fright molt enablesbirds to escapepredators. Over a year, the authorsobserved a European Sparrowhawk (Accipiternisus) pursuing a Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs),and a Northern Goshawk (A. gentills)chasing a Wood Pigeon (Colurabapalurabus). In each case,the bird being chasedreleased a small "cloud" of body featherswhen the hawk was very closebut had not made contact.Both hawks failed to catch their quarry. The authorsconclude that the birds droppedtheir feathersto confusethe hawks--much like a fleeing octopusemits a cloud of ink. Thus, fright molt may function (1) to confuse an attacking predator, and (2) as a last resort to escapewhen already caught. The authors suggestthat in the first case,it would be bestto drop small body feathersto createa "cloud effect," whereas in the secondcase, it would be best to drop the tail.--Jeff Marks.

ZOOGEOGRAPHY AND DISTRIBUTION (see also 3, 12, 55, 57, 58) 33. 1988 Boreal Owl survey in Cook County. W. H. Lane. 1988. Loon 60:99- 104.--Surveysalong five routesin northeasternMinnesota were conductedto locatesinging male Boreal Owls (Aegoliusfunereus) from late March through mid-May 1988. Singing males were identified at 37 locations, and at three locations,more than one male was heard from a singlelistening post. At 10 locations,singing-perches were located,all in the crowns of mature conifers.At 3 locations,males were observedin potentialnest cavities,all in old quaking aspens(?opulus trerauloides). These data help to define the distributionof this speciesin northeasternMinnesota and suggestthat currentfederal management guidelines regarding the nesting habitat of Boreal Owls (which call for the maintenanceof 200-acre tracts of mature conifers) may be in need of revision in order to maintain a breeding populationof the speciesin this region.--D. J. Ingold. 34. Status of Le Conte's Sparrow, Ammodramusleconteli (Emberlzldae), wintering in western Texas. T. C. Maxwell, D. E. Madden, and R. C. Dawkins. 1988. Southwest. Nat. 33:373-375.--The most recent summaries of the status of Le Conte's Sparrows(published in 1984) regardit as casualto rare in the southwesternportion of its range. In order to update this status,an extensiveeffort was made to capture Le Conte's Sparrowsin March 1984, October-April 1984-1985, and October-December1986, in Tom 274] RecentLiterature J.Field Ornithol. Spring 1989 Green County. Sixty-sevenbirds were captured (using mist nets), all in ephemeraland narrow successionalzones near the margins of reservoirs.These data suggestthat the Le Conte's Sparrow is a fairly regular and sometimescommon winter resident in western Texas.--D. J. Ingold. 5t5. Recent transatlanticvagrancy of landbirds and waders.N. Elkins. 1988. Br. Birds 81:484-491.--The pattern of autumn vagrancy of Nearctic birds to Great Britain and Ireland was the subjectof this long-term study. The appearanceof Nearctic passerines is fairly predictableand associatedwith fast moving fronts crossingthe North Atlantic. Dependingon the timing of the frontal systemand bird movementpatterns in North America, theseconditions may producea trickle of severalspecies or a small flight involvingonly one species.For example, the appearanceof severalGray-cheeked Thrushes (Catharusrninimus) during late October 1986 was correlatedwith the rapid passageof a front acrossthe North Atlantic on 18-19 October. Similar conditionsproduced a flight of Blackpoll Warblers (Dendroicastriata) in early October 1976. The appearanceof thesesingle species flights was theorizedto occurwhen a migratory wave of northern-breedingoverseas migrants became involvedwith a very mobile frontal system. The patternof Nearcftcshorebird vagrancy is morecomplex with little correlationbetween sightings and the passageof frontal systems.Significant correlations between the total numbersof shorebirdsightings and greater than normal westerly airflows exist for Septem- ber, but not for other autumn months. Shorebird recordsare also widely scatteredacross both countriesas opposedto passerineswhich are concentratedin the southwesterncounties of Great Britain and Ireland. This different pattern of vagrancy was attributed to the shorebirds'greater flight capacity,more complexmigratory routes, different origins of the vagrant species,greater variability in reproductivesuccess, and the increasedlikelihood of their survivalfor extendedperiods of time after they crossthe Atlantic.--Bruce G. Peterjohn. 5t6. Breeding status of the Gadwall in Britain and Ireland. A.D. Fox. 1988. Br. Birds 81:51-66.--The expansion of Gadwall (Anas strepera) within Great Britain and Ireland correspondswith similar rangeexpansions in portionsof Eurasia and North America. While introducedpairs were releasedin Great Britain as early as the 1850s,their numbers did not noticeablyincrease until the 1960s. From an estimated260 pairs in the early 1970s, their numbers increasedat an annual rate of 5% to the presentestimate of 500-600 pairs. The rate of expansionwas greateston man-made reservoirs.However, smaller increases on natural lakes and coastalwetlands indicated that the breedingpairs were not shifting from one habitat to another, but were expandingmore rapidly on the artificial reservoirs. Their presentbreeding distribution is describedin considerabledetail as is the timing of their expansion into various countiesin both countries. While this population was largely derived from introduced stock, there is interchange betweenBritish Gadwall and continentalpopulations. The contributionof wild Gadwall to this expanding population cannot be determined.Their present distribution reflectsthe originsof releasesand availabilityof suitablevegetated lakes and wetlands.Although certain local populationshave apparently stabilized in eastern Great Britain, their numbers are still expandingin mostareas and will undoubtedlycontinue to increase.--BruceG. Peter- john.

SYSTEMATICS AND PALEONTOLOGY (see also 52, 56, 58) 5t7. Juvenile Hen Harriers showing "Marsh Hawk" characters. J. P. Thorpe. 1988. Br. Birds 81:377-382.--Differences between the North American race of Northern Harrier (Circuscyaneus hudsonius) and Eurasianrace (C. c. cyaneus)have beenthe subject of controversyin recent years. While most adult males can be differentiated, separating other age classeshas proven more difficult. Juveniles have been distinguishedby their underpart coloration,rufous and unstreakedin hudsonius,but pale brown and streakedin cyaneus.Juvenile hudsoniusalso have darker headsand necks,giving a hoodedeffect not evidentin cyaneus.Recent sightingshave questionedthe validity of thesecharacteristics. Among the small breedingpopulation of Northern Harriers on the Isle of Man, a typical Vol.60, No. 2 RecentLiterature [275

pair of cyaneusadults produced two offspringwith unstreakedchestnut underparts and dark head markingsidentical to the hudsoniusrace. Severaladditional juvenile harriers exhibiting similar characteristics were also observed on the island. Since there was no Mendelian segregationof thesehudsonius characteristics, the author concludedthey were all under the control of a singledominant gene which is very rare in cyaneusbut found in most,if not all, hudsonius. These observationsraise some intriguing questions.Do these hudsonius-typejuveniles develop the adult characteristicsof cyaneusor hudsonius?If they develophudsonius-type adult features, then the subspecificdistinction would appear to be based on frequency differencesof only one gene. If hudsonius-typeharriers are rarely producedby cyaneus parents,do hudsoniusharriers in North America occasionallyproduce cyaneus juveniles? North Americanobservers could significantlycontribute to the resolutionof this question by providingdetailed descriptionsof juvenile and adult harriers at or near nests,paying particular attention to the characteristicsused to distinguishhudsonius from cyaneusindi- viduals.--Bruce G. Peterjohn. 38. The Yelkouan Shearwater Pujfinus(pujfinus?)yelkouan. W. R. P. Bourne,E. J. Mackrill, A.M. Paterson,and P. Yesou. 1988. Br. Birds 81:306-319.--The taxonomy of the Manx Shearwater(Puffinus puffinus) superspecies has beenthe subjectof debatefor more than a century. Several taxonomicschemes have been proposedbased on various morphologicalcharacteristics. Unfortunately, none of theseschemes has proven to be entirely satisfactoryand the classificationof most forms is still in doubt. The authorshave attemptedto make order out of this confusionby proposinganother classificationscheme based on breedingchronology, plumage similarities, migration patterns, and timing of molt. North of the equator, this group was divided into two species.The black-backedspecies tends to nest later in spring in inland mountains,feed far out at sea, and molt during winter. This specieswas calledManx Shearwater(P. puffinus)and included the Manx Shearwater(P. p. puffinus)of the Atlantic Ocean and Newell's Shearwater(P. nezoelli)and Townsend's Shearwater (P. auricularis) in the Pacific Ocean. The brown-backed speciesnests earlier in springon offshoreislets, feeds inshore, and dispersesto higherlatitudes to molt during summerand early autumn. This latter specieswas recognizedas the Yelkouan Shearwater(P. yelkouan)and incorporatedthe Levantine Shearwater(P. p. yelkouan)and Balearic Shearwater (P. p. mauretanicus)of the Mediterranean and Black-ventedShearwater (P. opisthomelas)of the easternPacific Ocean. Two Australasianforms which breedduring the austral spring and have noticeablydifferent plumageswere treated as distinctspecies, the Fluttering Shearwater(P. gayla) and Hutton's Shearwater(P. huttoni). While this schemepresents an admirable attempt to sort out this taxonomic chaos,it probablywill not be the final word on this subject.For the mostpart, this schemeis consistent with our presentknowledge of thesespecies. However, the nestingchronology of many of theseforms is irapreciselyknown as are their migration patterns.Additional studiescould result in different conclusionsconcerning the relationshipsof the various forms. Perhaps the mostobvious inconsistency is the inclusionof Townsend'sShearwater within the Manx group. While Townsend'sShearwaters have black backs,they nest in early spring off the coastof Mexico, appear to be sedentary,and may deserverecognition as a full species. As the authorscorrectly recognized, additional studies are requiredbefore the relationships within this complexgroup are completelyunderstood. In particular, investigationsof the biochemicalrelationships and vocalizationswould be enlightening.Until thesestudies have been completed,the ultimate classificationof this group will remain the subjectof debate.- Bruce G. Peterjohn. 39. Characters and taxonomic position of Basra Reed Warbler. D. J. Pearson and G. C. Backhurst. 1988. Br. Birds 81:171-178.--The taxonomic status of the Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalusarundinaceus) complex has been debated for decades.Presently, most forms in this complex have been elevated to full species,although the Basra Reed Warbler (Acrocephalusa. griseldis)is consideredto be a race of the wide ranging Great Reed Warbler. The Basra Reed Warbler is a poorly known form, breedingin Iraq and wintering in east Africa. This form was studied on its African wintering grounds with the plumage 276] RecentLiterature J.Field Ornithol. Spring 1989

characteristics and measurements recorded from more than 700 individuals banded since the 1970s.Characteristics separating this warbler from the Great Reed Warbler are discussed with the greatestemphasis placed on differencesin bill shape,upperpart colorationin fresh plumage,and the supercilium.These taxa can be separatedby wing and tail measurements in the hand. They also prefer different wintering habitats,with the Basra Reed Warbler occupyingbrush and thicketswhile Great Reed Warblers were restrictedto tall grasses. Based on consistentdifferences in their plumages, measurements,and vocalizations,the Basra Reed Warbler appearsto be as dissimilarfrom the Great Reed Warbler as were the other speciesin this complex.The authorsconcluded that this warbler deservesrecognition as a full species.--BruceG. Peterjohn.

EVOLUTION AND GENETICS (see also 9, 10, 13, 14, 28, 48) 40. European populationsof the Rock Dove Columba livia and genotypicex- tinction. R. F. Johnston,D. Siegel-Causey,and S. G. Johnson.1988. Am. Midl. Nat. 120: 1-10.--Rock Doves and conspecificsknown as fetal pigeonsare geneticallydifferentiated but are not reproductivelyisolated in Eurasia. The authorspropose that the remaining geneticallypure populationsof RockDoves are in dangerof beingswamped by fetal pigeons. In order to identify populationtraits of Rock Doves,three individualsfrom a captiveflock in Italy were comparedwith 105 fetal pigeonsfrom Italy and North America, using morphometricand allozyme data. External and bony morphologicaldata revealedsubtle and inconsistentdifferences between the groups,with geneflow from fetal to wild populations and lossof the geneticidentity in the latter group difficult to detect.Data from protein electrophoresisshowed that a number of geneticloci from fetal birds had allelesnot found in wild birds. Wild Rock Dovesshowed no unique or rare allelescommon to the fetal birds. Such heterozygosityin the fetal group is undoubtedlythe result of artificial propagation techniquesinduced by humans.Today, geneticallypure populationsof Rock Doves have an essentiallyinsular distribution. The loss of genic specificitywithin these populations couldbe preventedby maintainingand regeneratinggeographic isolation between them and fetal birds.--D. J. Ingold. 41. Sexualselection in PinyonJays I: female choiceand male-male competition. K. Johnson.1988. Anita. Behav.36:1038-1047.--The author conductedexperiments on captive Pinyon Jays (Gymnorhinuscyanocephalus) to determinewhich traits were advan- tageousin inter-male competitionand thosethat distinguishedwinners from losersin female choice.Larger maleswith largerbills tended to be moresuccessful in male-malecompetition, but were virtually ignoredby females.Females mated nonrandomlywith malesthat had bright feathersand large testes.It appearedthat male dominancewas not the major mech- anismdriving sexual selection in PinyonJays, although it appearedto conferan advantage.-- D. J. Ingold. 42. Sexual selectionin Pinyon Jays II: male choice and female-female competition. K. Johnson.1988. Anim. Behav.36:1048-1053.--Experiments on captivePinyon Jays (Gymnorhinuscyanocephalus) were performedin order to determinewhich female phenotypesare influencedby whichmechanism of sexualselection (intrasexual competition or matechoice). There was not a strongrelationship between dominance in femalejays and any singlephenotypic character. However, dominantfemales usually had brighter malar feathers,and weighedslightly more than subordinatebirds. Males mostfrequently chose dominantheavy females with thickerbills, althoughin general,male choice appeared to be a passiveprocess. From this and anotherstudy, it appearsthat intrasexualcompetition and mate choicein PinyonJays favorsspecific phenotypic traits in malesmore stronglythan in females.Thus, it appearsthat sexualselection is strongeron males.--D. J. Ingold.

FOOD AND FEEDING (see also 1, 2, 5, 14, 20, 22, 25, 58) 43. Red Crossbillsbreed at Highlands, North Carolina. D. B. McNair. 1988. Migrant 59:45-48.--This paper providesnumerous observations of crossbills(Loxia cur- Vol.60, No. 2 RecentLiterature [277

vzrostra)in the southernBlue Ridge Mountains.McNair suggeststhat nestingin late summer was timed suchthat fledgingcoincided with openingof white pine (Pinusstrobus) cones in August and September.Crossbills were also observedfeeding on open hemlock(Tsuga canadensis)cones and on the buds, twigs, and leavesof red maples (Acer rubrum), tulip poplars(Liriodendron tulipfera), and other similar foods.--JeromeA. Jackson. 44. Feeding ecology and White-faced Ibises in a Great Basin valley, USA. M. P. Bray and D. A. Klebenow. 1988. Colonial Waterbirds 11:24-31.--The authorsstudied feedingsite selectionand food habits of White-faced Ibises (Plegadischihi) in relation to agricultural practices,particularly the effectsof irrigation flooding. Much of the historic foraginghabitat has beendestroyed and ibisesnow commonlyforage in agriculturalfields. The studyfocused on the foragingpatterns of 5000 breedingibis pairs which foragedin fields3-18 km from the colonyon CarsonLake, Nevada.Censuses were conductedfrom mid-May prior to hatching through mid-August, 1985, shortly beforedispersal. Physical parameterssuch as soil and crop type, presenceor absenceof standingwater, and field size were recordedfor fields used by foraging ibises.Nineteen ibiseswere collectedfor crop contentanalysis. Ibisestended to congregatein larger fieldscloser to the colonyand 99.9% foragedin fields with standingirrigation water. The ibisesused the water to wash prey, and the water forced earthwormsto the surfacesoils where they becameavailable as prey. Earthwormswere the mostcommon item by weight and frequencyin examinedcrops. Ibises showed a significant preferencefor alfalfa fields, which accountedfor 86% of ibis usagein early summerand 100% in late summer. Pasture and grain fields accountedfor the other 14%. Alfalfa was more favorable for earthworms since it had higher prey densities,and higher nitrogen producedincreased growth and higher protein contentin earthwormprey. Ibisesused fields regardlessof vegetationheights, preferred high clay soilswhich held standingwater longer, and larger fields with longer irrigation periods. The authors concludedwith managementrecommendations for areas near nesting ibis colonies,which included flood irrigation of alfalfa fields of greater than 30 ha with low permeability soils.--William E. Davis, Jr. 45. The determination of prey captured by birds through direct field observations: a test of the method. F. Cezilly and J. Wallace. 1988. Colonial Waterbirds 11: 110-112.--To test the reliability of the widely usedtechnique of directobservation to study diet in free-living wading birds, the authors had two experiencedobservers watch captive Little Egrets (Egrettagrazetta) foragingin an enclosedpool, simulatingfield conditions. They recordedprey captureattempts, captures, and identifiedprey size and type. Three testsused sunperch,two mosquitofish, two shrimp, and one a mixture of tadpolesand water beetlelarvae. All prey were 2-5 cm in length.Neither observersuccessfully identified more than 50% of the prey items. One observerhad more than twice as many errors as correctidentifications, and the other, althoughmaking only one misidentificationcompared to 37 correct, left more than half of the items unidentified. Similar numbers of items were either unidentified or misidentified. When the size of items was recorded, the estimate was alwaysin the correctrange. Fish and invertebrateswere identifiedin aboutequal proportions. In studieswhere prey speciesidentification is particularly important, for example when prey speciesof the same length class have substantially different shapes and biomass, misidentificationcould lead to substantialerror. The authorssuggest that researchersshould testthe reliabilityof directobservations through experimental foraging situations, or at least be cognizantof possibleerror in their analysis.--William E. Davis, Jr. 46. Diving and foraging in the Western Grebe. R. C. Ydenbergand L. S. Forbes. 1988. Ornis Scan& 19:129-133.--Birds that feed underwater need time on the surface to recoverfrom the physiologicaleffects of diving, and many biologistshave noted a positive relationship betweendive time and surface time following a dive. In this paper, the relationship between dive time and surfacetime was examined for Western Grebes (Aech- mophorusoccidentalis) nesting in southeasternBritish Columbia. Regressionanalysis showed that surfacetime was positivelyrelated to length of the precedingdive (n = 1416).Using this regression equation, the authorscalculated the deviation from expectedsurface time (DEVEST) for eachnew dive as the differencebetween surface time predictedfrom the equationand the observedsurface time. Assumingthat on average, 278] RecentLiterature J.Field Ornithol. Spring 1989 grebesrecover fully after each dive, the regressionequation estimatedthe averagetime neededfor recoveryfrom a dive of givenlength. Negative DEVEST valuessuggest a deficit in recoverytime and positivevalues a surplus. The relationshipbetween DEVEST of the current dive cycleand that of the precedingcycle was curvilinearsuch that when DEVEST was negative,that of the followingdive cycle was alsolikely to be negative.When DEVEST was >0, then that of the next dive cyclewas likely to be near zero. This effectheld through long seriesof dives, and DEVEST had a high positiveserial correlationover at least five successivedive cycles.DEVEST had very little influenceon dive duration. The authorsinterpret theseresults in light of Western Grebe foragingecology. Grebes hunt schoolsof fish that can be difficult to find. Once found, however,the schoolsyield many captures.Thus, many divesare made before the first capture, after which captures occurin quick succession.The observedpatterns of diveand surfacetimes could correspond to periodsof heavywork (without full recovery)while grebesexploit fish schoolsinterspersed with periodsof light work (with full recovery)while grebessearch for new schools.--Jeff Marks. 47. Foraging behaviour and selectionof prey and perchesby the Buffstreaked Chat Oenanthebifasciata. A. Tye. 1988. Ostrich59:105-115.--Tye studiednon-breeding Buff-streaked Chats for a month in 1985 in South Africa. Three males and two females providedmost of the data, with female behaviordiffering from that of malesonly in the amountof time they spentsinging (16% of the males'time, very little of the females').The birds spent 70% of their time foraging, and 20% resting. These chats occupiedbroadly overlappinghome ranges,and spent more time on interspecificrather than intraspecific aggression.They foragedmore often from perches1.5-3 m high, from which they were more likely to make aerial salliesfor flying insectsthan fly to the ground.Perches less than 1.5 m in height were more often usedfor foragingfrom the ground, and were more likely to be abandonedbefore a feedingattempt. Chats stayedlonger on perches1.5-3 m in height before giving up than on perchesof other heights,but time spent on a perch before a successfulprey capturewas similar for perches1.5-3 m high and onesless than 1.5 m high. Prey compositionand preferencesare detailed,and the species'foraging behavior is compared with that of others in the genus Oenanthe.--Malcolm F. Hodges, Jr. 48. The evolution of finch communities on islands and continents:Kenya vs. Galapagos. D. Schluter. 1988. Ecol. Monogr. 58:229-249.--Schluter studiedfinch com- munitiesin Kenya in 1983, 1985, and 1986. His aim wasto comparethis work with existing knowledgeof finch communitieson the GalapagosIslands, make generalizationsabout differencesbetween archipelagoand continental granivorousfinch assemblages,and ulti- mately say somethingabout the evolutionof finch communities. He surveyedthe finchesoutside the breedingseason at six locationsin Kenya from the coastto the central highlands. He also collectedinformation on their diets, both through observationsof feedingbirds, and capturingbirds and forcingthem to disgorgetheir crops. Schluter sampledseed abundance and variety, and usedthese and the diet data to compute niche breadth and overlap. Finally, he measuredbill and body morphologyof captured birds. Schluter found Kenya finchesto differ from thoseon the Galapagosas follows:they exploitedless available seeds overall, usedless than the entire range of availableseed sizes, and were lessdiverse morphologically than Galapagosfinches. Birds in Kenya had diets restrictedby habitat, microhabitat,and speciesof plant, rather than by size of the seeds. These taxonomicrestrictions tended to reducethe correlationbetween bill and body mor- phologyand diet. Competitionwith other birds, rodents,and ants in Kenya has restrictedniches available to granivorousfinches, contended Schluter. In addition,predation pressure has forced finches to use less available habitat, further restrictingavailable niches.Finches in Kenya were foundto staywithin a certaindistance of suitablecover, and to underuseseeds on the ground in densegrasses. Schluterbelieves competition and predationrestrict the finch communityin Kenya, while age and freer movementmake it more diversetaxonomically. The greater variety of seed resourcesavailable in Kenya was not found to influencediversity of the finch community, perhaps due to the above-mentionedrestrictions. Vol.6o, No. 2 RecentLiterature [279

Schluter'sclear, fluid writing style enhancesthe accessibilityof this paper, and his conclusionsare well-considered.--Malcohn F. Hodges,Jr.

SONGS AND VOCALIZATIONS

(see also 15, 18, 33) 49. Comparisonof communicationand signallingpatterns of WhitebrowedSpar- rowweavers and other gregariousPloceid weavers.J. W. H. Ferguson.1988. Ostrich 59:54-61.--White-browed Sparrow-Weavers(Plocepasser mahali) were observedfrom July 1982 to May 1984 in northwesternOrange Free State,South Africa. Their vocalrepertoire is well developedand consistsof at leastnine discretecalls. Visual signals,associated mostly with mating and agonisticdisplays, appear to be lessimportant. This is similar to other membersof the genusPlocepasser, but contrastswith the gregariousPloceine weavers, which have a wide repertoireof visual communication.These differencesmay be explained,in part, by differencesin the habitatsin which the taxa evolved.Sparrow-weaver auditory signalsare very tonal, and not well suitedto densevegetation; thus, it is suggestedthat this systemevolved in an open, arid environment.--D. J. Ingold. 50. Mixed singersand imitation singersamong Short-toed Treecreepers. P. Clau- sen and S. Toft. 1988. Br. Birds 81:496-503.--The phenomenaof mixed singing and imitation singingwere describedfor the breedingpopulation of Short-toedTreecreepers (Certhia brachydactyla)in Denmark. Mixed singing was defined as songscontaining rep- ertoires of both Short-toedand Common treecreepers(C. familiaris) but lacking a fully developednormal song phrase of the formerspecies. hnitation singers were Short-toedswith fully developedsongs mixed with phrasesof the Common Treecreeper song. Sonograms depictedthe normal songsof both speciesas well as the mixed and imitated songs. In Denmark, mixed and imitated singing was restrictedto Short-toedTreecreepers, by far the less numerous of the two species.Elsewhere in western Europe, these phenomena were mostly reported for Common Treecreeperswhere they are outnumberedby Short- toeds.Based on theseobservations, mixed singingwas believedto evolvein areasof sympatry with the less numerousof the two specieslearning from the more abundant species.The authorsspeculated that imitation singingmay be usedto communicatewith membersof the other specieswhere interspecificterritories are maintained, but providedno evidenceto support this claim.--Bruce G. Peterjohn.

PHOTOGRAPHY AND RECORDINGS 51. Voicesof the New World nightbirds:owls, nightjars, and their allies. Revised edition. J. W. Hardy, B. B. Coffey, Jr., and G. B. Reynard. 1988. ARA Records,P.O. Box 12347, Gainesville,FL 32604.--This recording,produced in the Florida Museum of Natural History's BioacousticLab, is an expandedversion of the original releasedin 1980. This cassettetape containsrecordings of 95-97 speciesof owls,nightjars, potoos, and oilbird (the number pending splits of someobvious species pairs, etc.), while 12-13 other species are announcedon the tape, but we are told that no known recordingof theseexists. Many of the cutson the tape are of high quality, but overall they vary greatly. On some the calls resound with clarity, but on more than one cut I had to turn the volume up to hear the speciesin question,and then rushedto turn it down when the announcerboomed the next species'name. I can forgive the use of less-than-superiorrecordings of little-known tropical owls or nightjars, someof which are here made available for the first time to the public. We are treated to recordingsgraced with the soundof sheep,or human voices,and frequently the incessantwhine of insectsnearly drownsout the callsof the subjectspecies. The preparators were correct to include all available recordings,however, since this work is valuable as a reference,and shouldbe as all-inclusive as possible. I cannotforgive the use of inferior recordingsof commonNorth American species,such as the Eastern Screech-Owl. True, the soundsof this speciesare generally available elsewhere, but that deniesthe true value of this tape as a reference.The useof only one example of this species'calls, and that from southernTexas (hardly representative),is unfortunate, asis the quality of recordingsof a coupleof the other familiar species(such as Great Horned 280] RecentLiterature J.Field Ornithol. Spring 1989

Owl). However, there were certainly restrictionson the length and diversity of the cuts, sinceso many speciesare covered. The tape is accompaniedby a much-foldedstrip which listsspecies, locations and dates of recordings,recorders, etc. A sectionof notesat the end of the list providessome useful backgroundon the ecologyand systematicsof certain species.The paper is too long to comfortably fit into the tape case in folded form. Some way should have been devisedto includetext on the outsidein the form of a booklet;then, the notescould have beenexpanded and separated,so that they are not all run togetherin one paragraph. Aside from the above objections,this tape should prove valuable both to ornithologists interestedin vocalizations,and to birders intent on identifying night birds on trips to the tropics. I recommendit.--Malcolm F. Hodges, Jr.

BOOKS AND MONOGRAPHS 52. The parrots of Luquillo: natural history and conservation of the Puerto Rican Parrot. N. F. R. Snyder,J. W. Wiley, and G. B. Kepler. 1987. WesternFoundation of Vertebrate Zoology, Los Angeles, Galifornia. 384 pp., 122 text figures, 65 tables, 36 appendices,8 colorplates. $29.50 (hard cover).--In this book,Snyder, Wiley, and Kepler presentdata and findingsof the Puerto Rican Parrot (Amazonavittata) recovery program, which was initiated in 1986 as a cooperativeprogram betweenthe United StatesFish and Wildlife Service, the United States Forest Service, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rican Parrot is the most critically endangeredparrot in the Caribbean. This bookdeals not only with the effortsto savethis parrot, but representsthe mostcomprehensive field studyundertaken to date, on any Neotropicalparrot. Althoughparrots are commonly kept in captivity,their biologyin the wild has been poorly studiedand understood.The authorsshould be commendedon their effortsto remedythis lack of psittacineknowledge. The book is organizedinto 12 concisechapters, each with a summary. The format is easily readable, and the 36 appendicesat the end of the book contain substantialand supplementalinformation. The tables and figures are very detailed, straightforwardand comprehensiblewithout the text. The photographsand color plates are exceptionallyclear and precise;particularly noteworthy is Color Plate 3.3 which depictsthe speciesof Amazona in the West Indies. Too often, parrot booksare merely a collectionof beautiful colorphotographs with the text being secondaryand almostincidental. This book is happily not of that ilk and setsa precedentfor future parrot publicationsto follow. It containsmethodologies which can be followed in future studiesand, most importantly, the text containslife history data which can be comparedwith data from other ecologicalstudies of parrots, and avian speciesin general. Chapters one and two are introductory and discussthe various historical factors which were responsiblefor the declineof this species.The "Iguaca," as it was named by the Indians of Puerto Rico, has sufferedgreatly from man's impacton the forestsof that island. Man destroyedthe habitat of the parrot through loggingand agricultural activities,but also removeddozens of young parrotsfrom their nestsfor pets.These practicesare not unique to Puerto Rican Parrots, and parrot populationseverywhere today are affectedby these same threats. The authors' discussionof thesethreats can be extrapolatedto parrots in general. - The originsand relativesof the Puerto Rican Parrot are exploredin chapterthree. The authors examined 369 specimensof Greater Antillean and Central American Amazonaand did a systematicanalysis which involved 18 mensural and color characters.Their data are presentedin two appendicesand are thus available to other investigatorsto use. They concludedthat sizewas not a "meaningfulindicator of relationship"and the "mostprobable origin of the PuertoRican Parrot waseither directly from theJamaican Black-billed Amazon (A. agilis)or from the HispaniolanParrot (A. ventralis)."Although A. ventralisis geograph- ically closer, color charactersrather favor a close common ancestry with A. agilis. Since analysesof plumage colorationwere insufficientto explain iguaca'sancestry, the authors recommendfuture study. The remaining habitat of the parrot, the Luquillo Mountains forest,is extensivelyde- scribedin chapterfour. Includedis a discussionof the commonbreeding birds within the habitats of the forest. Vol.60, No. 2 RecentLiterature [281

Movements and feeding ecologyof the parrot are treated in chapter five. The feeding data which camefrom 758 direct observationsof parrotsfeeding (640 were collectedby the Rodriquez-Vidal studyin the 1950sand 118 were collectedin the presentstudy) are presented in varioustables and four appendices.The authorsexamined the parrots' food sourcesin light of their availability and seasonality.Puerto Rican Parrotsare generallyfrugivorous, feeding on fruits with a diameter greater than one centimeterand a main staple in their diet is the fruit of Sierra Palm (Prestoeamontana). This chapter also includesa discussion of Puerto Rican Parrot vocalizationsand the resultsof sonographicanalysis are depicted. Since the Puerto Rican Parrot is a secondaryhole nester, the authors paid particular attention to nest sites. Chapter six is devoted to this topic and the data presentedare exhaustive.Important comparativedata for other West Indian Amazonaspecies and wood- peckersare included in this chapter. The poor reproductiveperformance of this speciesin recenttimes has beenattributed to a scarcityof optimal nestsites. Eighty-one percent of all parrot nestswere in Palo Colorado (Cyrilla racemifiora)tree cavitiesbut Palo Colorados accountedfor only 59% of all the treessurveyed. An understandingof a species'reproductive biology is critical to the conservationof any endangeredspecies. The authors made a major effort to achievethis understandingand as a resultof their labors,the mostcomprehensive life historydata ever collected for a neotropical parrot are presentedin chaptersseven and nine. These chaptersnot only include good, qualitative descriptionsof parrot reproductivebehavior, but also providequantitative analysesof the data. Noteworthy are the discussionof clutchand broodsize (pp. 167-171) and the life tablesfor the PuertoRican Parrot (pp. 210-216). Appendix 33 presentsproductivity data for all documented nests from 1940 to 1985! In chapter eight, the authors assessthe impact of all known potential predators,except man, on the Puerto Rican Parrot. A thoroughexamination of the Pearly-eyedThrasher (Margaropsfuscatus)predation problem is included. Conservationefforts in the wild and captivepropagation are discussedin the remaining two chapters. The use of Hispaniolan Parrots as surrogatesin the captive propagation program is an interesting and useful avicultural technique. The complementaryeffort of field studyand captivebreeding is shownby the practiceof fosteringcaptive-produced chicks into nests in the wild. In their openingchapter, the authorscommented that their studyrepresented more than 20,000 h of observation from blinds and lookouts. The excellent data base contained in this book demonstratesthis point effectively.This book should be required reading for any ornithologistworking on parrotsand for conservationbiologists. As a researcherwho studies Amazons and waited patiently for the publicationof this book, I was not disappointed.In addition, I stronglyrecommend this book to field biologists,aviculturists, and anyonewho is interestedin avian natural history.--RosemarieGram. 53. Bird finding in New England. R. K. Walton. David R. Godine, Inc., Boston. 328 pages,maps, illus. $14.95 softcover.--In the finesttraditions of James Lane and Olin Sewall Pettingill, Richard K. Walton has written an informative,useful, and often enter- taining volume on seekingout Yankee birds. This field guide-sizedbook will make a welcome companionfor birders venturing from Connecticutto Maine. Each state is given its own chapter in which Walton discussesprime birding locations.In a bookof this size it is not possibleto include every birding locale, and experiencedbirders may take issuewith some of Walton's omissions,though he lists supplementalareas at the end of each chapter. However, eachof his selectionsis without questionworthy of inclusionand the total provides thoroughcoverage and goodbalance, with a mixture of coastaland inland locationsas well as varied ecologicalregions. In addition to state-by-statechapters, Walton includeschapters on seabirdfinding (guest authored by Wayne R. Petersen)and hawk watching,two "specialty areas" of northeastbirding. Descriptions of birding sites include detailed directions,comments on seasonalchanges, availability of lodgingand food,and up-to-date speciesnotes about what can be found where. Names and phone numbersare includedwhere such information is vital to success(i.e., reservingboats, transportation to islands,etc.). In addition, Walton offers insightsabout regionalhistory and tradition as well as considerableinformation on local ecology.Maps are well-drawn and easyto follow. Walton's writing ability makesthe bookpleasurable reading. For instance,in his chapter 282] RecentLiterature J.Field Ornithol. Spring 1989 on Vermont, he beginsby introducingMolly Stark, wife of General John Stark, a hero of the Revolutionary War. Molly raised 11 children, organizedand ran a field hospital, and occasionallysocialized without her husband.This insightis Walton's way of familiarizing his readers with the Molly Stark Trail (route 9), an ideal route for birding the Green Mountains. Birdersalready experienced in New Englandwill havefond memories rekindled by reading Walton's lively descriptionsof suchbirding meccasas Block Island, Cape Ann, and Concord.Newcomers to the region will have a goodguide at their fingertips.This book will not only get you to the birds you have in mind, it will help you enjoy and understand what you're seeingalong the way. The book concludeswith brief speciesaccounts of New England's most desirablebirds (winter finches,alcids, wood warblers, etc.), including information on population trends as well as recommendedlocations for finding each species.Also included are appendiceson stateorganizations, rare bird alerts,floral and faunal references,and journals and magazines. There is a goodbibliography. The text is garnishedwith attractiveblack-and-white illus- trationsof suchvenerable Yankee speciesas Black Guillemot as well as regionalnewcomers suchas the Carolina Wren.--John C. Kricher. 54. The Irish Dipper. K. W. Perry. 1986. Publishedprivately, available from the author, 3 Limavady Road, Waterside, Derry, BT47 IJU, Ireland. 142 pageswith maps, illustrationsin color and b & w. $13.95 + postage(hardcover).--This strikingly illustrated volume is a tour de force in terms of what can be accomplishedby dedicatedamateurs in ornithology.Perry providesa thoroughlyreadable account of his researchon virtually all aspectsof Irish Dipper (Cincluscinclus) biology. Chapters discuss distribution, plumage and molt, song,courtship and display,behavior, food, breeding biology, and nesting,including sevenfield studiesof the nestingcycle. The Irish Dipper is a distinctsubspecies from the dipperfound in Britain and Europe (thoughit occursin the westernisles of Scotlandand westernparts of mainland Scotland).The Irish race lays fewer secondclutches than birds of the British race, but Perry concludesthat the Irish subspeciesis more versatilein timing its breedingto coincidewith peak food availability. Secondclutches are avoideddue to decliningfood supply. Over 80% of nestlingIrish Dippersare successfullyreared to at least 14 d. Perry is quite straightforwardin his writing styleand data presentation.The bookis abundantlyillustrated with Perry'sphotographs, which are of superbquality (includedis an appendixon photographictechniques). Detailed distributionmaps further enhancethe clarityof the book.Perry's work providesa fine exampleof a thorough,rigorous field study. This bookis the culminationof 25 yearsof field work. It was worth the effort.--John C. Kricher. 55. Annotated checklist of the birds of Kentucky. B. L. Monroe, Jr., A. L. Stamm, and B. L. Palmer-Ball, Jr. 1988. Kentucky Ornithological Society,Louisville. xi + 84 pp. $6.50.--This checklist providesthe first comprehensivesummary of the abundanceand distributionof birds in Kentucky sinceMengel's book was publishedin 1965. Its format is similar to annotated checklistspublished in other states.The brief introductory material includesdefinitions of terms, sourcesof information, two maps and an explanationof the bar graphs. Most of the text is devotedto the accountsof 340 speciesof birds that have been substantiatedby specimens,photographs and written descriptions.For regularly oc- curring species,these accountsbriefly summarize their relative abundance,statewide distribution patterns,and habitat preferences.For accidentaland casualvagrants, all acceptable recordswere cited. The remainder of the checklistincludes a brief hypotheticallist, a short list of specieswhich may be expectedto appear in the future and bar graphs exhibiting the seasonalabundance of each species. This thoroughlyprepared publication represents an excellentsource of currentinformation on the statusof Kentucky's avifauna. The introductorymaterial is conciseand adequately describesall information pertinent to the checklist.The speciesaccounts are informative and appear to be accuratewhen comparedwith avian distribution patternsin surrounding states.The very few errors include the omissionof a 1971 King Eider (Sornateriaspectabilis) specimenfrom the Ohio River and no mention of the fall status of Alder Flycatchers (Ernpidonaxalnorurn). Additionally, the discussionof identificationproblems obscuring the statusof Northern Goshawks(Accipiter gentilis) could have been applied to other species. Vol.60, No. 2 RecentLiterature [283

These omissions are minor and should not detract from the overall value of the checklist, especiallyfor mostwaterfowl, shorebirds,and gulls whosestatus have changed substantially since1965. The bar graphsare clearly reproducedand generallyeasy to decipheralthough the regional status codescan be confusing.This checklistwill undoubtedlyprove to be valuable for anyonewith an interestin the statusof Kentucky'savifauna--an excellent update of Mengel's authoritativebook.--Bruce G. Peterjohn. 56. Spanishnames for Mexican birds. (Nombresen castellanopara las avesmexi- canas.)A.M. Sada, A. R. Phillips, and M. A. Ramos. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones sobre RecursosBi6ticos. P.O. Box 63, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico. 67 pp. 2 figures and bibliography.--In Mexico, as well as in other Latin American countries,single species of birdshave different local names. This varietyof namescomplicates the processesof training birdwatchersand/or promotingconservation campaigns in which a commonname is needed. In this work, the authorsprovide a Spanishcommon name for mostof the birdsof Mexico. The main purposeof the work is to give each Mexican bird an easy-to-learncommon name that couldalso be usedas the standard-officialSpanish name. The format consistsof an introductorysection and a list of scientificnames, with its Spanishand English common names.The work is intendedto be usedby the generalpublic and professionals. Most of the assignedcommon names are associatedwith morphologicalfeatures of the species.In somecases, the authorshad to relate the commonname to geographicaldistri- bution, habitat, peculiar behavioralpatterns, or to the Spanishtranslation of the scientific name. Unfortunatelythe authorsavoided providing a commonname for eachspecies that in the field is difficult to identify, given its similarity with others.As a consequenceno particular commonnames are given to speciesof generasuch as Empidonax,Contopus, PujySnus, and Oceanodroma.They give one or two namesto all the specieswithin thesesimilar groups; for example,all Shearwatersand Petrels(Procellariidae) are named"Pardela." For the formal studentand the professional,this presentsa problembecause only the scientificname will provideconsistency in the identificationof a bird on a report or a publication,or in educationalactivities such as conservationcampaigns. The authorstry to selectcommon names that are widely usedin Latin America,like "zorzal" for thrush, but in somecases they do not usethe mostaccepted Spanish name. For example, they use "Zorzal Pechirojo"for the American Robin, "Gavia" for loons,and "Mosquerito" for flycatchers,when "Petirojo," "Somormujoso Colimbos,"and "Papa- moscas,"respectively, are more widely acceptedin Spanish.Some of the commonnames they give to migrantsare very regionalizedor presentconfusion. For "Redstarts"they use the commonname "Pavitos," when "Pavos" is usually used for turkeys. These problems void the use of the list in a more universal way. Nevertheless,the work fulfills its main goal: offering an appropriateSpanish name for most of the birds of Mexico, particularly the endemics.The work fills a gap in Mexican ornithologyand providesa guidefor the unificationof commonnames of the birdsof South and Central America and the Caribbean Islands.--Rafil A. P•rez-Rivera. 57. Newfoundland birds: exploitation, study, conservation.W. A. Montevecchi and L. M. Tuck. 1987. Publ. Nuttall Ornithol. Club, No. 21. 273 pp., 23 tables,40 figures.- This monographwas begunby Leslie Tuck to be a portionof his "magnumopus" on the avifauna of Newfoundland.Following Tuck's death in 1979, Montevecchitook up the challengeand hasbrought this first portionof the endeavorto fruition. This volumeis more or less the introductionand historicalbackground for a regional bird book that is yet to come. The first chapter sets the stage, essentiallyoutlining the subjectmatter of remaining chapters.Chapter 2 providesan excellentdescription of the topography,vegetation, climate, and generalhabitat associationspresent on Newfoundland.Chapters 3-8 are more or less chronologicalaccounts of ornithologicalexploration in Newfoundland,beginning with evi- dencesof prehistoricassociations of birds and men, and endingwith an accountof recent researchby Tuck and others.These chapters are the meat of the bookand are essentially a collectionof vignettesof the many expeditionsthat have taken ornithologiststo New- foundland.The list of ornithologistsincludes many who are well-known for their work 284] RecentLiterature J.Field Ornithol. Spring 1989 elsewhere(e.g., Audubon, Townsend, Glover Allen, Bent, Griscom,Gilliard, Aldrich,Bur- leigh) and the materialpresented here is a real biographicaltreasure trove. Chapter 9 identifiesand discussesthe historyof the major seabirdcolonies around New- foundland,and chapter 10 detailsthe developmentof conservationefforts and laws,gamebird introductions,and establishmentof parks and preserves. Appendicesinclude a list of Newfoundlandbirds, vernacularnames for Newfoundland birds (by Montevecchiand J. Wells), and a list of parks, wildernessareas, and wildlife sanctuaries. Althoughthis is an excellentsourcebook for ornithologicalhistorians, there is at leastone funny typo. On page 33 anotherchapter is addedto our knowledgeof the demiseof the Great Auk. It was "fightless."--Jerome A. Jackson.

58. The ancestral kestrel. D. M. Bird and R. Bowman, eds. 1987. Raptor Research ReportsNo. 6. 178 pp., paperback.$12.50 + shipping.(Available from Jim Fitzpatrick, CarpenterSt. Croix Nature Center,12805 St. Croix Trail, Hastings,MN 55033U.S.A.)- This is a collectionof papers presentedat a symposiumon kestrel speciesin December 1984. Publicationof the proceedingsis the joint effort of the Raptor ResearchFoundation, Inc., and the MacDonald Raptor ResearchCentre of McGill University. This volume includes16 of the 20 paperspresented at the symposium.Nine of them deal primarily with the AmericanKestrel (Falco sparverius), two with the EurasianKestrel (F. tinnunculus),one with the Greater Kestrel (F. rupicoloides),and the remainingcompare species of kestrels. Topics range from kestrelsystematics, to kestrelbehavior, to kestrelecology, to kestrelsas laboratory animals. D.A. Boyceand C.M. White presenta scenariofor the evolutionof the 15 modernspecies of kestrels,suggesting that the Falconidaeare diphyletic,with onegroup originating in the Neotropics,and the ancestorsof Falcooriginating in Africa or southeastAsia. Eventsof the Pleistoceneare invoked as facilitators of kestrel dispersal,isolation, and evolution. The American Kestrel is consideredthe mostrecently derived of the group. An analysisof 15 yr of BreedingBird Surveysby M. R. Fuller et al. suggeststhat American Kestrel numbershave been increasingin most parts of their range, although declines were noted in Illinois and Arkansas. A. Village reviewsthe literatureon populationregulation in kestrels,summarizing studies of sixspecies (although primarily work onF. sparveriusand F. tinnunculus).Roughly similar in size,morphology, and habitat requirements,kestrel species differ greatlyin their population dynamics.An underlyingtrend amongkestrels seems to be their ability to adapt to local conditions.This adaptability,however, means that different factorsmay be limiting different populations/species.Factors identified and discussedinclude prey density,territorial behavior,nest sites,presence of transients,emigration, and mortality rates. Village concludes with recommendations for further studies. A very valuablecontribution to our knowledgeof AmericanKestrels is a paper by C. W. Alvafez and J. C. Lorenzoon the nestingsuccess of the Cuban raceof the AmericanKestrel at a 416 ha site in Havana province.This little known Cuban residentwas found nesting in the defoliatedtops of palms. Laying occurredbetween 8 Apr. and 25 May; hatching between27 May and 13 Jun.; fledgingbetween 11 Jun. and 29 Jul. Clutch size averaged 2.78 eggs;fledging success was 52.9%; total nestingsuccess was 37.5%. Human disturbance accounted for 59% of losses. Other studiesof nestingecology include that by M. L. Hoffman and M. W. Collopy near Archer, Florida; a paper on dispersaland inbreedingavoidance by R. Bowman et al.; and papers on nest-sitecompetition between American Kestrels and European Starlings (Sturnusvulgaris) by T. J. Wilmers and E. M. Curley et al. Studiesof foraging ecology include:(1) a paper by Petra Bohall-Woodand M. W. Collopy on foragingbehavior of American Kestrelsin Florida in relation to habitat; (2) a review of foraging behaviorof Eurasianand Americankestrels by K. L. Bildsteinand M. W. Collopy;and (3) a lengthy review of kestrel prey selectionstudies by H. C. Mueller. A related paper is a study of habitat separationby the sexesof wintering American Kestrels in California by R. L. Meyer and T. G. Balgooyen.They found that females Vol.60, No. 2 RecentLiterature [28.5 occupiedwinter territories that had a higher averagedensity of birds and mammals than did males.The authorssuggest that this differencebetween the sexesis a result, not a cause, of size and color dimorphismin the species.They also proposeuse of the term "habitat split" rather than "niche split" to refer to the difference. Excellent studiesof kestrel energeticsinclude a paper by D. Masman and S. Daan on the allocationof energyin the annual cycleof the Eurasian Kestrel, and a studyof American Kestrel energeticsin Utah by J. A. Gessamanand L. Haggas. A paper by A. C. Kemp details sexualdimorphism in linear and weight measurements of Greater Kestrelsin South Africa. Finally, S. N. Wiemeyer and J. L. Lincer review the use of various speciesof kestrelsin toxicologicalstudies. This is a volumethat any raptor enthusiastwill want to have.It was worth waiting for.- Jerome A. Jackson.