KLEPTOPARASITISM BY KELP GULL LARUS DOMINICANUS ON COMMON TERN STERNA HIRUNDO AND SOUTH AMERICAN TERN S. HIRUNDINACEA ATTENDING COASTAL FISHERIES IN MAR DEL PLATA, ARGENTINA

摘要

Kleptoparasitism, the stealing of already-procured food by individuals of the same or other species, is a widespread behaviour among birds (Brockmann & Barnard 1979). Such behaviour often occurs among seabirds and may be an important feeding technique of Laridae (gulls and terns), in which the habit has been recorded for more than 25% of the family (Furness 1987). Likewise, some species of gulls frequently engage in intra- and interspecific kleptoparasitism, and this behaviour can become an important feeding method during the breeding and non-breeding seasons for those birds. This note provides information about new records of kleptoparasitism by Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus on two species of tern.