Male and female Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus can reverse their desertion decisions

Abstract

The Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus is a species that displays uniparental care. Either the female or the male parent abandons the clutch before incubation commences, and both parents desert about 30% of clutches. Deserting individuals may nest again and have up to six partners over a breeding season. We describe five cases of an apparent reversal of the decision to desert by four male and one female Penduline Tit in Sweden and Poland. Several days after abandoning a clutch, the individuals returned to their nests and began incubation. All clutches were successful.