# Territory in Bird Life

TERRITORY IN BIRD LIFE
A pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers attacking a Great Spotted Woodpecker
Emery Walker ph.sc
TERRITORY IN BIRD LIFE
BY H. ELIOT HOWARD
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY G. E. LODGE AND H. GRÖNVOLD
LONDON JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W. 1920
All rights reserved
PREFACE
When studying the Warblers some twenty years ago. I became aware of the fact that each male isolates itself at the commencement of the breeding season and exercises dominion over a restricted area of ground. Further investigation, pursued with a view to ascertaining the relation of this particular mode of behaviour to the system of reproduction, led to my studying various species, not only those of close affinity, but those widely remote in the tree of avian life. The present work is the outcome of those investigations. In it I have endeavoured to interpret the prospective value of the behaviour, and to trace out the relationships in the organic and inorganic world which have determined its survival. Much is mere speculation; much with fuller knowledge may be found to be wrong. But I venture to hope that a nucleus will remain upon which a more complete territorial system may one day be established.
​I have to thank Mr G. E. Lodge and Mr H. Grönvold for the trouble they have taken in executing my wishes; I also want to record my indebtedness to the late E. W. Hopewell; and to Professor Lloyd Morgan, F.R.S., I am beholden more than I can tell.
CONTENTS
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Face page
SCIENTIFIC NAMES OF BIRDS MENTIONED IN THE TEXT
| Raven | Corvus corax. |
| Carrion-Crow | Corvus corone. |
| Hooded Crow | Corvus cornix. |
| Rook | Corvus frugilegus. |
| Magpie | Pica pica. |
| Jay | Garrulus glandarius rufitergum. |
| Chough | Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax. |
| Starling | Sturnus vulgaris. |
| Greenfinch | Chloris chloris. |
| Hawfinch | Coccothraustes coccothraustes. |
| House-Sparrow | Passer domesticus. |
| Chaffinch | Fringilla cœlebs. |
| Brambling | Fringilla montifringilla. |
| Linnet | Acanthis cannabina. |
| Corn-Bunting | Emberiza calandra. |
| Yellow Bunting | Emberiza citrinella. |
| Cirl Bunting | Emberiza cirlus. |
| Reed-Bunting | Emberiza schœniclus. |
| Sky-Lark | Alauda arvensis. |
| Pied Wagtail | Motacilla lugubris. |
| Tree-Pipit | Anthus trivialis. |
| Meadow-Pipit | Anthus pratensis. |
| Great Titmouse | Parus major newtoni. |
| Blue Titmouse | Parus cæruleus obscurus. |
| Long-tailed Titmouse | Ægithalus caudatus roseus. |
| Red-backed Shrike | Lanius collurio. |
| Whitethroat | Sylvia communis. ​ |
| Lesser Whitethroat | Sylvia curruca. |
| Blackcap | Sylvia atricapilla. |
| Grasshopper-Warbler | Locustella nævia. |
| Savi’s Warbler | Locustella luscionioides. |
| Reed-Warbler | Acrocephalus scripaceus. |
| Marsh-Warbler | Acrocephalus palustris. |
| Sedge-Warbler | Acrocephalus schœnobænus. |
| Willow-Warbler | Phylloscopus trochilus. |
| Wood-Warbler | Phylloscopus sibilatrix. |
| Chiffchaff | Phylloscopus collybita. |
| Song-Thrush | Turdus musicus clarkii. |
| Redwing | Turdus iliacus. |
| Blackbird | Turdus merula. |
| Redstart | Phœnicurus phœnicurus. |
| Redbreast | Erithacus rubecula melophilus. |
| Nightingale | Luscinia megarhyncha. |
| Stonechat | Saxicola rubicola. |
| Whinchat | Saxicola rubetra. |
| Wheatear | Œnanthe œnanthe. |
| Hedge-Sparrow | Accentor modularis. |
| Wren | Troglodytes troglodytes. |
| Spotted Flycatcher | Muscicapa striata. |
| Swallow | Hirundo rustica. |
| Martin | Delichon urbica. |
| Sand-Martin | Riparia riparia. |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker | Dryobates major anglicus. |
| Lesser Spotted Woodpecker | Dryobates minor. |
| Green Woodpecker | Picus viridis. |
| Cuckoo | Cuculus canorus. |
| Tawny Owl | Strix aluco. |
| Buzzard | Buteo buteo. |
| Sparrow-Hawk | Accipiter nisus. |
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus. |
| Merlin | Falco æsalon. |
| Kestrel | Falco tinnunculus. ​ |
| Shag | Phalacrocorax graculus. |
| Wild Duck | Anas boschas. |
| Snipe | Gallinago gallinago. |
| Dunlin | Tringa alpina. |
| Ruff | Machetes pugnax. |
| Redshank | Totanus totanus. |
| Black-tailed Godwit | Limosa limosa. |
| Curlew | Numenius arquata. |
| Whimbrel | Numenius phæopus. |
| American Golden Plover | Charadrius dominicus. |
| Lapwing | Vanellus vanellus. |
| Oyster-Catcher | Hæmatopus ostralegus. |
| Herring-Gull | Larus argentatus. |
| Kittiwake | Rissa tridactylus. |
| Razorbill | Alca torda. |
| Guillemot | Uria troille. |
| Puffin | Fratercula arctica. |
| Fulmar | Fulmarus glacialis. |
| Water-Rail | Rallus aquaticus. |
| Corn-Crake | Crex crex. |
| Moor-Hen | Gallinula chloropus. |
| Coot | Fulica atra. |
| Wood-Pigeon | Columba palumbus. |
| Turtle-Dove | Streptopelia turtur. |
| Partridge | Perdix perdix. |
| Black Grouse | Lyrurus tetrix britannicus. |
| Red Grouse | Lagopus scoticus. |
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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