A Study of Blackbird Repeats at a Decoy Trap

Abstract

The tendency for banded birds to "repeat", i.e. re-enter a decoy trap, is greatest for Grackles, followed by Cowbirds, Red-wings, and Starlings in that order. This finding is based on 6477 repeats contributed by 29,479 birds. The species differences are statistically significant (p<.01). Analysis of seasonal variables tends to minimize their contaminating effect. From an explanatory standpoint, the comparative stability of the species samples may be an intervening variable, but the basic cause of the inter-specific differences appears to be in the field of what is here called personality.