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Parental infanticide by egg destruction in Red-billed Tropicbirds Phaethon aethereus on the Caribbean island of Sint Eustatius
Citation
DANIELSON-OWCZYNSKY, H., MADDEN, H. & JODICE, P.G.R. 2023. Parental infanticide by egg destruction in Red-billed Tropicbirds Phaethon aethereus on the Caribbean island of Sint Eustatius. Marine Ornithology 51: 261 - 264
Received 07 January 2023, accepted 01 June 2023
Date Published: 2023/10/15
Date Online: 2023/10/12
Key words: Caribbean, infanticide, island, Phaethontidae, reproduction, seabird
Abstract
Avian reproduction is a process that requires extensive energetic input by parents, particularly in pelagic seabirds. Parental infanticide has rarely been reported in pelagic seabirds, and its frequency among taxa is therefore difficult to determine. Using data from remote cameras, two cases of probable parental infanticide in Red-billed Tropicbirds Phaethon aethereus were captured on Sint Eustatius in the 2021–2022 breeding season. Both cases are presented with images collected from remote cameras as evidence. While appearing counterproductive, parental infanticide may provide an alternative reproduction strategy that favors lifetime reproductive success over short term success.
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