@article{Shafaeipour_Fathinia_Michalczuk_2022, title={Rocky nests are better nesting sites than woodpecker cavities for the Eastern Rock Nuthatch Sitta tephronota}, volume={68}, url={https://ojs3.mtak.hu/index.php/actazool/article/view/8388}, DOI={10.17109/AZH.68.4.361.2022}, abstractNote={<p>The reproductive success of birds depends on many factors, including nest construction and placement. In the mountainous regions of southwestern Iran, broods of Eastern Rock Nuthatch <em>Sitta tephronota</em> were surveyed in 2016 and 2017. During the study, 11 broods in rocky cavities and 16 in abandoned Syrian woodpeckers’ <em>Dendrocopos syriacus</em> tree cavities were compared in terms of breeding performance (phenology, clutch size, hatching success, number of fledglings, breeding success). The Eastern Rock Nuthatch began egg-laying on March 24 and continued until April 15. The number of eggs in the clutch ranged from 3 and 7 (mean 5.6±1.19, median 6, N = 27). The two types of clutches compared usually contained 6 eggs, and the number of nestlings was statistically lower in tree cavities than in rocky nests. Hatching success was almost 30% higher in rocky nests than in tree cavities. In broods located in trees, 4 nestlings hatched most often (42%, N = 12), and in rock nests, 5 nestlings hatched (50%, N = 10). Rocky nests were also statistically greater (by over 40%) for breeding success. For all analysed broods and broods with success, roughly two extra fledglings left the rocky nests compared with tree cavities. 5 fledglings (50%, N&nbsp;= 10) most often left rocky nests, whereas, in general, 4 fledglings (50%, N = 10) left tree nests. Research results did not confirm that woodpecker cavities are safe nest sites for cavity dwellers.</p&gt;}, number={4}, journal={Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae}, author={Shafaeipour, Arya and Fathinia, Behzad and Michalczuk, Jerzy}, year={2022}, month={Oct.}, pages={361-374} }