Maladaptive adoptions in the Hooded Crow Corvus corone cornix
BAGLlONE V.,PIERI M. and BOGLIANI G.Abstract:
Three cases of post fledging adoption were observed in 13 nests located in a northern ltalian study area, where Hooded Crows nest at a high density (6.7 nests per km\"), Adoptions occurred imrnediately after fledging; any later atternpt ofyoung to obtain food frorn adults other than own parents was unsuccessful. Feeding frequency was not different between adopted young and true offspring. Feeding performance before tledging did not di ffcr bctween the pairs frorn which the adopted young originated and those that becarne foster parents. lt is presurned that Hooded crows lack the ability to recognize their offspring and adoptions are a maladaptivc phenornenon due to the high nesting density.