NEST AND EGG CRYPSIS IN THE GROUND-NESTING STONE CURLEW BURHINUS-OEDICNEMUS

We studied the selective advantage of nest and egg crypsis in the Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus. Experimental removal of camouflaging nest material resulted in replacement of a similar amount and size of nest material for the specific nest site. The match between the colour of the eggs and the ground was usually perfect and mismatches in coloration increased the predation rate by visually searching avian nest predators. Both nest building and choice of nest substrate appeared to increase crypsis and improved hatching success.