Abstract
Antipredator behavior of the Rufous Turtle Dove, Streptopelia orientalis was studied on the campus of University of Tsukuba from March, 1990 to November, 1991. The breeding doves showed alternative antipredator behavior against a human visitor: injury-feigning and threatening. Threatening behavior was sometimes followed by attack with wings. Injury-feigning and threatening behavior were observed in 20 and 29 of 124 nests observed. The frequency and intensity of the antipredator behavior were not related to nest site characteristics, environmental conditions, breeding season, and brood size, but frequency of threatening behavior increased after the 7th day of nestlings. Although fledging success was higher in threatening behavior nests after the 7th day, nest success and fledging success were not related to the type and frequency of antipredator behavior as a whole. It is suggested that the antipredator behavior of the dove is not effective against the main predators, crows, although the behavior may have played a role in avoiding ground or small predators in other habitat.
