Social associations are predicted by nest proximity but not kinship in a free-living social parrot

Abstract

Social associations among conspecifcs are typically non-random, ofen being a function of relatedness, familiarity, or spatial distributions. Te aim of this study was to combine feld observations with molecular genetic techniques and social network analysis to investigate the predictors of social associations in free-living monk parakeets, Myiopsita monachus. Monk parakeets are non-territorial parrots whose nests are ofen aggre gated, with relatives clustered in kin neighbourhoods and within cooperatively breeding groups. First, we characterized social associations when away from the nest, showing that individuals typically had a few strong social ties. Second, we investigated whether these social associations were related to nest proximity or genetic relatedness. Te strength of association decreased with increasing inter-nest distance, but there was negligible infuence of relatedness on the strength of associations. Tese paterns did not difer between same-sex and opposite-sex dyads. Finally, we inves tigated whether members of breeding pairs were close social associates, fnding that in most cases the closest associate of an individual was their mate, although social bonds also existed outside of the pair; members of breeding groups also associated closely when foraging. Social associ ations are poorly known in parrots owing to methodological challenges, hence our results add to the limited knowledge of sociality in this taxon.