Ardea
Official journal of the Netherlands Ornithologists' Union

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Filipiuk M. & Kucharczyk M. (2016) A puzzling case of successful double-brooding in the Little Bittern Ixobrychus m. minutus. ARDEA 104 (2): 182-186
The Little Bittern is one of the least studied heron species in its breeding range. The nominate, Palaearctic race Ixobrychus m. minutus has been generally assumed to be single-brooded only, yet detailed studies of its breeding biology and mating system are lacking. The present paper provides the first observational evidence of successful double-brooding in the nominate race of the Little Bittern and gives the first record of time-overlapping double-brooding in the species. Potential determinants of this breeding strategy as well as the frequency of its occurrence are discussed.


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