Lichens in birds nest construction of chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)

Abstract

Chaffinch used epiphytic foliose lichen Hypogymnia physodes for construction of nest. The living fragments of thallus were tenuously attached by their lower black surface to the outward side of the birds nest. Abundance of this species on the trees around the bird’s nest of chaffinch showed that lichen was used for camouflage of birds’ nest. In addition single thallus fragments of foliose lichen Parmelia sulcata were used with this purpose too.