A CASE OF POLYANDRY IN THE BLUE-TIT - FEMALE EXTRA-PAIR BEHAVIOR RESULTS IN EXTRA MALE HELP

Secondary females of polygynous males often have a lower breeding succ ess, because they receive no or reduced male help. Widowed females, fa cing a similar problem, are known to copulate with other males who may then adopt the brood. I here report on a special case of polyandry wh ere a secondary female obtained parental care from three males. By beh aving as an unpaired female towards a widowed male she managed to get help from this male. It is suggested that soliciting EPCs could result in male help under certain conditions.