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SummaryMonogamy was considered to be the most common mating system in birds. However, molecular techniques revealed numerous cases of extra-pair fertilisations (EPFs) in most bird species as well as multiple partners during breeding season. In this study, we examined the population of the Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis breeding along the Danube River system in Slovakia during three consecutive breeding seasons (2016-2018). We analysed 618 individuals – 70 adults and 548 nestlings from 87 broods. Overall, six nestlings (1.09%) from three different broods (3.45%) were fathered by other than the pair male. None of the nestlings had a mother other than the pair female. Besides that, we detected two simultaneously polygamous males (5.13%). In seven cases (9.72%) we revealed mate change between different broods: female change in three cases (4.17%) and male change in four cases (5.55%). The occurrence of extra-pair nestlings as well as polygamy was not associated with the synchronicity of breeding attempts at the beginning of the season, while the type of mating strategy seems to be associated with nest density. At the same time, male body condition was unrelated to the type of mating strategy in which he was engaged. Conversely, polygamous males had higher genetic diversity (observed heterozygosity) than monogamous ones. No difference in genetic diversity was found between monogamous and polygamous females. There was no difference in breeding success before and after the change of partner. In addition, polygamous individuals did not have more young than monogamous birds, suggesting that having more than one partner does not ensure greater breeding productivity. This is probably why polygamy remains a minority strategy in the Common Kingfisher.—Cepková, M., Melišková, M. & Rubáčová, L. (2023). Low extra-pair paternity and polygamy in the Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis. Ardeola, 70: 41-58.

In 2018, the unique breeding effort of Common Kingfisher was documented in the Danube River system, southwestern Slovakia. Preliminary observations indicated that one breeding pair managed to breed five times of which three attempts were successful. The aim of the present work was to determine whether the observed breeding pair exhibiting remarkable reproductive parameters did not undergo extra-pair interactions or partner exchange during a long breeding season using molecular techniques. Our results show, that male bred not with one, but with two females in sequence during the season. Male found a new mate during the incubation of the third brood. Due to the relatively short distance between nesting burrows and raising many offspring from both broods, we assume that the possibility of simultaneous bigamy is relatively low. Since the females very rarely leave males during breeding, we suggest that exchange of the female partner was due to a loss of the partner rather than a consequence of an abandonment by the female.

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