The effects of brood size on growth and steroid hormone concentrations in nestling eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis)

Birds in multi-nestling broods often experience reduced growth and elevated nutritional and social stress as a result of competition for parental resources. While responses are often species-specific, experimentally increasing brood size has been shown to decrease growth and increase production of both testosterone and corticosterone in nestling passerines. To investigate the relationship between brood size, growth, and steroid hormone production in eastern bluebirds, we cross-fostered nestlings to small, medium, and large broods. Body mass, skeletal size, serum testosterone, and baseline serum corticosterone concentration were measured prior to fledging. Bluebird nestlings raised in large broods weighed less than nestlings in small and medium-sized broods and secreted elevated concentrations of testosterone. Nestling corticosterone concentrations did not vary in response to brood size or body condition, but concentrations were higher in males compared to females. Our results suggest that nestling bluebirds experiencing nutritional and social stress increase testosterone production. Elevated concentrations may enhance begging and competitive abilities in smaller young. Higher concentrations of corticosterone in males may be related to sex-biased provisioning. Further experimental work is needed to ascertain the effects of elevated testosterone concentrations in nestling bluebirds, as well as the causes and consequences of elevated corticosterone for male nestlings.

► Nestling bluebirds were cross-fostered to broods of differing sizes. ► Growth, testosterone, and corticosterone production were measured prior to fledging. ► Nestlings in large broods weighed less and produced higher levels of testosterone. ► Corticosterone was unrelated to brood size or body condition but was higher in males.