Sibling aggression in nestling ospreys in Nova Scotia

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Abstract
Eighteen instances of sibling aggression were seen in six of eight osprey nests under intensive observation. Aggression primarily occurred during the last 3 weeks of the nestling period. Most encounters lasted 5–20 s and parents did not interfere. Eleven of 18 instances of aggression occurred during feeding and sometimes nestlings did not receive food because of interference by siblings. The same amount of fish were brought to nests with two as with three young but hostility occurred only in nests with three young. There was no hostility between the one incumbent chick and a foster chick which was placed in a nest. However, hostility did occur between a foster chick and two incumbents in another nest. Aggression may be more common in nests with larger broods where competition for food could be greater.

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