Physiology of Helping in Florida Scrub-Jays

By Stephan Schoech

When these birds are young, they delay reproduction and help others raise their offspring. The hormone prolactin may influence that cooperation

Biology Chemistry Evolution Physiology Reproduction

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January-February 1998

Volume 86, Number 1
Page 70

DOI: 10.1511/1998.17.70

If you are in the right habitat in south-central Florida, you can frequently watch groups of Florida scrub-jays. If you make a hissing sound—a technique that birders call pishing—you might attract half a dozen of these birds, which resemble the common blue jay in size and shape, minus the crest.

A. & E. Morris / VIREO; Reed Bowman

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