Variation in clutch size in relation to nest size in birds
Authors: Møller Anders P. , Adriaensen Frank , Artemyev Alexandr , Bańbura Jerzy , Barba Emilio , Biard Clotilde , Blondel Jacques , Bouslama Zihad , Bouvier Jean‐Charles , Camprodon Jordi , Cecere Francesco , Charmantier Anne , Charter Motti , Cichoń Mariusz , Cusimano Camillo , Czeszczewik Dorota , Demeyrier Virginie , Doligez Blandine , Doutrelant Claire , Dubiec Anna , Eens Marcel , Eeva Tapio , Faivre Bruno , Ferns Peter N. , Forsman Jukka T. , García‐Del‐Rey Eduardo , Goldshtein Aya , Goodenough Anne E. , Gosler Andrew G. , Góźdź Iga , Grégoire Arnaud , Gustafsson Lars , Hartley Ian R. , Heeb Philipp , Hinsley Shelley A. , Isenmann Paul , Jacob Staffan , Järvinen Antero , Juškaitis Rimvydas , Korpimäki Erkki , Krams Indrikis , Laaksonen Toni , Leclercq Bernard , Lehikoinen Esa , Loukola Olli , Lundberg Arne , Mainwaring Mark C. , Mänd Raivo , Massa Bruno , Mazgajski Tomasz D. , Merino Santiago , Mitrus Cezary , Mönkkönen Mikko , Morales‐Fernaz Judith , Morin Xavier , Nager Ruedi G. , Nilsson Jan‐Åke , Nilsson Sven G. , Norte Ana C. , Orell Markku , Perret Philippe , Pimentel Carla S. , Pinxten Rianne , Priedniece Ilze , Quidoz Marie‐Claude , Remeš Vladimir , Richner Heinz , Robles Hugo , Rytkönen Seppo , Senar Juan Carlos , Seppänen Janne T. , da Silva Luís P. , Slagsvold Tore , Solonen Tapio , Sorace Alberto , Stenning Martyn J. , Török János , Tryjanowski Piotr , van Noordwijk Arie J. , von Numers Mikael , Walankiewicz Wiesław , Lambrechts Marcel M. 
Published: September 2014

Nests are structures built to support and protect eggs and/or offspring from predators, parasites, and adverse weather conditions. Nests are mainly constructed prior to egg laying, meaning that parent birds must make decisions about nest site choice and nest building behavior before the start of egg‐laying. Parent birds should be selected to choose nest sites and to build optimally sized nests, yet our current understanding of clutch size‐nest size relationships is limited to small‐scale studies performed over short time periods. Here, we quantified the relationship between clutch size and nest size, using an exhaustive database of 116 slope estimates based on 17,472 nests of 21 species of hole and non‐hole‐nesting birds. There was a significant, positive relationship between clutch size and the base area of the nest box or the nest, and this relationship did not differ significantly between open nesting and hole‐nesting species. The slope of the relationship showed significant intraspecific and interspecific heterogeneity among four species of secondary hole‐nesting species, but also among all 116 slope estimates. The estimated relationship between clutch size and nest box base area in study sites with more than a single size of nest box was not significantly different from the relationship using studies with only a single size of nest box. The slope of the relationship between clutch size and nest base area in different species of birds was significantly negatively related to minimum base area, and less so to maximum base area in a given study. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that bird species have a general reaction norm reflecting the relationship between nest size and clutch size. Further, they suggest that scientists may influence the clutch size decisions of hole‐nesting birds through the provisioning of nest boxes of varying sizes.