Through a phylogenetic analysis of 175 reports detailing territorial aggression in Passeriforme birds, researchers found that 32.3% of all known species of North American perching birds exhibit territorial aggression against other species of birds, and such behavior is associated with overlapping breeding habitats; compared with nonhybridizing species, hybridizing species were more likely to defend their territory against other species of birds, and the results suggest that resource competition is a key driver of territorial behavior, according to the authors.
Article #19-21380: "Competition and hybridization drive interspecific territoriality in birds," by Jonathan P. Drury, Madeline C. Cowen, and Gregory F. Grether.
MEDIA CONTACT: Jonathan Drury, Durham University, UNITED KINGDOM; tel: +44-7378-515154; email: jonathan.p.drury@durham.ac.uk
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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences