Temporary bigamy among Carrion Crows Corvus corone as a process of mate change

Abstract

Trios (1♂-2♀) of Carrion Crows were observed in three territories. They occurred when the alpha female had failed to breed for several years. In two cases, the new individuals were fledglings from neighboring territories. One of them laid eggs when two years old. The second females bred successfully after the alpha females had died or disappeared. Temporary bigamy might be involved during the process of mate change. Techniques normally used when studying primates applied to individual identification of Carrion Crows are effective, provided that unchanging characteristics of the individuals concerned are systematically recorded and detailed long-term observations based on such characteristics are possible.