Ardea
Official journal of the Netherlands Ornithologists' Union

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Lamprecht J. & Buhrow H. (1987) Harem polygyny in Bar-headed Geese. ARDEA 75 (2): 285-292
In a semi-captive flock of Bar-headed Geese harem groups of one male with 2-5 females were regularly observed, lasting up to several years. The primary or paired females (PF) are actively courted by the male during pair formation. Other females, unrelated to the pair members, may join the pair later, by consistently following the paired male (PM). These secondary females (SF) preferably attached to older than average males and to pairs of higher than average dominance. SFs maintained contact with the male by following him, while the male usually followed the PF. SFs spent less time feeding and were more often displaced by other geese than the PFs of their group. In the average over 11 years 10.2% of the PMs had 1-4 (mostly one) SF in April. 10.5% of the females associated with a male were SFs. In all three cases where the PF disappeared from a polygynous group the SF became the new PF of the male. Comparison with available literature suggested that polygyny in geese is related to a female-biased sex ratio.


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