Fertility of captive flamingos varies between
flocks, species and seasons. Individuating infertile eggs could be helpful to
facilitate important decisions. Wild animals could be encouraged to abandon the
nest or not, whereas in captivity removing non-viable egg would lead birds to
lay a new one. The aim of this study was to investigate the parental behaviour
of a pair of greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) in the presence of a fertile and an infertile egg.
Data on the posture and behaviours of the pair on the nest were collected over
two different periods: first period—an infertile egg was laid; second period—a fertile egg was laid. For
each period, 28 ten-minute sessions per flamingo partner were run. Results
revealed that female flamingo spent significantly more time standing on the
nest in the first than in the second period (P = 0.010). Moreover, when standing on the nest, the
female performed significantly more egg-care behaviour (attention to the egg,
egg rotation/moving) in the first than in the second period (P = 0.010). No significant differences between
periods emerged in the male flamingo posture on the nest and behaviours.
Findings from this study suggest that female flamingos stand on the nest longer
if the egg is infertile, paying more attention and examining it deeply. This
study provides new insights into greater flamingo parent-embryo
communication. Future research is needed to
improve our knowledge on this topic, as well as on the husbandry of this
species in the controlled environment.
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