Brood parasitism can play an important role in processes regulating fitness and population dynamics of both hosts and parasites. Interspecific and conspecific brood parasitism are 2 alternative reproductive strategies observed to occur in about 1% of all bird species. Recently, low reproductive productivity has been observed in wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) populations resulting in population declines across the southeastern United States. Reproductive productivity may be influenced by brood parasitism, but the extent of brood parasitism and how it may influence productivity of wild turkey populations is poorly understood.
Results/Conclusions
Herein, we illustrate multiple unreported examples of conspecific brood parasitism obtained using GPS telemetry data from female wild turkeys in Louisiana and Georgia. Further, we report the occurrence of conspecific brood parasitism in 2 populations of Rio Grande wild turkeys in Texas using photographic evidence. Lastly, we illustrate the potential extent of conspecific brood parasitism using data collected from research on reproduction and movement of female wild turkeys across the Southeast, and discuss potential impacts of brood parasitism on reproductive productivity.