Intrabrood variation in nestling mass among three sagebrush-associated songbirds

Abstract

The young of some altricial bird species hatch asynchronously, which can lead to considerable size differences among siblings. Nestling traits such as body mass, moreover, can carry over and influence post-fledging survival. Despite the potential importance of nestling mass for reproductive outcomes, however, variation in nestling mass and relationships with brood size has been described and quantified rarely. We weighed 453 nestlings from 148 nests of 3 sympatric, sagebrush-associated songbird species in Wyoming, USA, to describe the range of intrabrood mass differences. Intrabrood differences in nestling mass were greatest for the largest species, the Sage Thrasher ( Oreoscoptes montanus ), for which the smallest nestling in a brood was on average 26.2% smaller than the largest. The smaller Vesper Sparrow ( Pooecetes gramineus ) and Brewer's Sparrow ( Spizella breweri ) exhibited similar intrabrood mass ratios, with the smallest nestling being 17.4% and 18.4% smaller on average than the largest for the 2 species, respectively. For each additional nestling within a brood, the smallest nestling was an additional 6.6–13.6% smaller than the largest nestling, depending on species. Understanding the extent of intrabrood variation in nestling traits has important implications for the productivity of species facing unpredictable environments.