Female-biased natal philopatry, social parallels, and conspecific brood parasitism in New World quails and waterfowl

Abstract

Brood merging and conspecific brood parasitism are common in some waterfowl and New World quails. A previously unrecognized, unusual similarity between them-female-biased natal philopatry and local relatedness-may enable indirect inclusive fitness gains in brood parasitism and merging. New World quails offer a rare possibility to test the role of female-biased natal philopatry in brood parasitism, brood merging, and other aspects of sociality and to help clarify the evolution of these traits.