Pecking order problems: interspecific and intraspecific aggression towards chicks of the nationally critical tara iti (Sternula nereis davisae)

Interspecific and intraspecific aggressive behaviours towards chicks are well documented across several avian taxa. Over the last 40 years, observational data on tara iti (New Zealand fairy tern, Sternula nereis davisae) has shown that chicks of tara iti are frequently attacked by conspecifics, and occasionally by other species. This study examines observational data from 11 breeding seasons (2014–25) to explore these behaviours and determine if chicks are at risk. We found that the majority of