Publications of Mihai Valcu

Journal Article (80)

2025
Journal Article
Bulla, M.; Valcu, M.; Kempenaers, B.: Still no evidence for disruption of global patterns of nest predation in shorebirds. bioRxiv: the preprint server for biology (2025)
Journal Article
de Framond, L.; Francis, D. C.; Valcu, M.; Brumm, H.: Latitudinal variation in the timing of nest predator activity is habitat specific. Global Ecology and Biogeography 34 (1), e13945 (2025)
Journal Article
Delhey, K.; Valcu, M.; Kempenaers, B.: Unpalatable birds are black: a re-analysis of Hugh Cott’s data on bird palatability. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 144 (2), blaf005 (2025)
Journal Article
Kempenaers, B.; Valcu, M.; Piersma, T.; Santema, P.; Vervoort, R.: Large-scale sampling of potential breeding sites in male ruffs. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 292 (2038), 20242225 (2025)
2024
Journal Article
Delhey, K.; Krietsch, J.; Parisi, A.; Valcu, M.; Kempenaers, B.: Variation in nuptial color in relation to sex, individual quality and mating success in the sex-role reversed Phalaropus fulicarius (Red Phalarope). Ornithology 141 (3), ukae016 (2024)
Journal Article
Krietsch, J.; Valcu, M.; Cragnolini, M.; Forstmeier, W.; Kempenaers, B.: Mutual mate guarding with limited sexual conflict in a sex-role-reversed shorebird. Behavioral Ecology 35 (1), arad084 (2024)
Journal Article
Linscott, J. A.; Basso, E.; Bathrick, R.; Bosi de Almeida, J.; Anderson, A. M.; Angulo-Pratolongo, F.; Ballard, B. M.; Bêty, J.; Brown, S. C.; Christie, K. S. et al.: The Amazon Basin’s rivers and lakes support Nearctic-breeding shorebirds during southward migration. Ornithological Applications 126 (4), duae034 (2024)
Journal Article
Saalfeld, S. T.; Valcu, M.; Brown, S.; English, W.; Giroux, M.-A.; Harrison, A.-L.; Krietsch, J.; Kuletz, K.; Lamarre, J.-F.; Latty, C. et al.: From land to sea: The fall migration of the red phalarope through the Western Hemisphere. Marine Ecology-Progress Series 729, pp. 1 - 29 (2024)
Journal Article
Zaid, E.; Rainsford, F. W.; Johnsson, R. D.; Valcu, M.; Vyssotski, A. L.; Meerlo, P.; Lesku, J. A.: Semelparous marsupials reduce sleep for sex. Current Biology 34 (3), pp. 606 - 614.e3 (2024)
2023
Journal Article
Delhey, K.; Valcu, M.; Dale, J.; Kempenaers, B.: The evolution of carotenoid-based plumage colours in passerine birds. Journal of Animal Ecology 92 (1), pp. 66 - 77 (2023)
Journal Article
Delhey, K.; Valcu, M.; Muck, C.; Dale, J.; Kempenaers, B.: Evolutionary predictors of the specific colors of birds. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 120 (34), e2217692120 (2023)
Journal Article
Santangeli, A.; Haukka, A.; Morris, W.; Arkkila, S.; Delhey, K.; Kempenaers, B.; Valcu, M.; Dale, J.; Lehikoinen, A.; Mammola, S.: What drives our aesthetic attraction to birds? npj Biodiversity 2 (1), 20 (2023)
Journal Article
Santema, P.; Eberhart-Hertel, L. J.; Valcu, M.; Kempenaers, B.: Sexual selection for extreme physical performance in a polygynous bird is associated with exceptional sex differences in oxygen carrying capacity. Biology Letters 19 (11), 20230391 (2023)
Journal Article
Valcu, M.; Valcu, C.-M.; Kempenaers, B.: Extra-pair paternity and sexual dimorphism in birds. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 36 (5), pp. 764 - 779 (2023)
2022
Journal Article
Adreani, M. N.; Valcu, M.; Aberg Cobo, B. M.; Abrego Veizaga, V. L.; Acosta, H. J.; Acosta, M.; Adreani, R. M.; Aguilar, J. M.; Aguirre, M. M.; Aiub Robledo, B. I. et al.: Asymmetric architecture is non-random and repeatable in a bird’s nests. Current Biology 32 (9), pp. R412 - R413 (2022)
Journal Article
Krietsch, J.; Cragnolini, M.; Kuhn, S.; Lanctot, R. B.; Saalfeld, S. T.; Valcu, M.; Kempenaers, B.: Extrapair paternity in a sequentially polyandrous shorebird: Limited evidence for the sperm storage hypothesis. Animal Behaviour 183, pp. 77 - 92 (2022)
Journal Article
Kwon, E.; Valcu, M.; Cragnolini, M.; Bulla, M.; Lyon, B.; Kempenaers, B.: Breeding site fidelity is lower in polygamous shorebirds and male-biased in monogamous species. Behavioral Ecology 33 (3), pp. 592 - 605 (2022)
2021
Journal Article
Culina, A.; Adriaensen, F.; Bailey, L. D.; Burgess, M. D.; Charmantier, A.; Cole, E. F.; Eeva, T.; Matthysen, E.; Nater, C. R.; Sheldon, B. C. et al.: Connecting the data landscape of long‐term ecological studies: The SPI‐Birds data hub. Journal of Animal Ecology 90 (9), pp. 2147 - 2160 (2021)
Journal Article
Delhey, K.; Dale, J.; Valcu, M.; Kempenaers, B.: Migratory birds are lighter coloured. Current Biology 31 (23), pp. R1511 - R1512 (2021)
Journal Article
Mikula, P.; Valcu, M.; Brumm, H.; Bulla, M.; Forstmeier, W.; Petrusková, T.; Kempenaers, B.; Albrecht, T.: A global analysis of song frequency in passerines provides no support for the acoustic adaptation hypothesis but suggests a role for sexual selection. Ecology Letters 24 (3), pp. 477 - 486 (2021)
Journal Article
Valcu, C.-M.; Valcu, M.; Kempenaers, B.: The macroecology of extra-pair paternity in birds. Molecular Ecology 30 (19), pp. 4884 - 4898 (2021)
2020
Journal Article
Beck, K. B.; Valcu, M.; Kempenaers, B.: Analysis of within-individual variation in extrapair paternity in blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) shows low repeatability and little effect of changes in neighborhood. Behavioral Ecology 31 (6), pp. 1303 - 1315 (2020)
Journal Article
Carballo, L.; Delhey, K.; Valcu, M.; Kempenaers, B.: Body size and climate as predictors of plumage colouration and sexual dichromatism in parrots. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 33 (11), pp. 1543 - 1557 (2020)
Journal Article
Delhey, K.; Dale, J.; Valcu, M.; Kempenaers, B.: Why climate change should generally lead to lighter coloured animals. Current Biology 30 (23), pp. R1406 - R1407 (2020)
Journal Article
Delhey, K.; Guallar, S.; Rueda‐Hernández, R.; Valcu, M.; Wang, D.; Kempenaers, B.: Partial or complete? The evolution of post‐juvenile moult strategies in passerine birds. Journal of Animal Ecology 89 (12), pp. 2896 - 2908 (2020)
Journal Article
Evens, R.; Kowalczyk, C.; Norevik, G.; Ulenaers, E.; Davaasuren, B.; Bayargur, S.; Artois, T.; Akesson, S.; Hedenstrom, A.; Liechti, F. et al.: Lunar synchronization of daily activity patterns in a crepuscular avian insectivore. Ecology and Evolution 10 (14), pp. 7106 - 7116 (2020)
Journal Article
Gilsenan, C.; Valcu, M.; Kempenaers, B.: Timing of arrival in the breeding area is repeatable and affects reproductive success in a non‐migratory population of blue tits. Journal of Animal Ecology 89 (4), pp. 1017 - 1031 (2020)
Journal Article
Kappers, E. F.; de Vries, C.; Alberda, A.; Kuhn, S.; Valcu, M.; Kempenaers, B.; Both, C.: Morph‐dependent fitness and directional change of morph frequencies over time in a Dutch population of Common buzzards Buteo buteo. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 33 (9), pp. 1306 - 1315 (2020)
Journal Article
Krietsch, J.; Valcu, M.; Kempenaers, B.: Wind conditions influence breeding season movements in a nomadic polygynous shorebird. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 287 (1920), 20192789 (2020)
Journal Article
Santema, P.; Valcu, M.; Kempenaers, B.: Exposure to predator models during the fertile period leads to higher levels of extra‐pair paternity in blue tits. Journal of Animal Ecology 89 (2), pp. 647 - 657 (2020)
Journal Article
Valcu, C.-M.; Valcu, M.; Teltscher, K. L.; Kempenaers, B.: Non‐analytical methods for the estimation of total yolk carotenoids in passerine eggs. Ibis 162 (3), pp. 1075 - 1081 (2020)
2019
Journal Article
Bulla, M.; Reneerkens, J.; Weiser, E. L.; Sokolov, A.; Taylor, A. R.; Sittler, B.; McCaffery, B. J.; Ruthrauff, D. R.; Catlin, D. H.; Payer, D. C. et al.: Comment on “Global pattern of nest predation is disrupted by climate change in shorebirds”. Science 364 (6445), eaaw8529 (2019)
Journal Article
Bulla, M.; Valcu, M.; Rutten, A. L.; Kempenaers, B.: Temporary mate removal during incubation leads to variable compensation in a biparental shorebird. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 7, 93 (2019)
Journal Article
Carballo, L.; Battistotti, A.; Teltscher, K. L.; Lierz, M.; Bublat, A.; Valcu, M.; Kempenaers, B.: Sperm morphology and evidence for sperm competition among parrots. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 32 (8), pp. 856 - 867 (2019)
Journal Article
Delhey, K.; Dale, J.; Valcu, M.; Kempenaers, B.: Reconciling ecogeographical rules: Rainfall and temperature predict global colour variation in the largest bird radiation. Ecology Letters 22 (4), pp. 726 - 736 (2019)
Journal Article
McQueen, A.; Kempenaers, B.; Dale, J.; Valcu, M.; Emery, Z. T.; Dey, C. J.; Peters, A.; Delhey, K.: Evolutionary drivers of seasonal plumage colours: Colour change by moult correlates with sexual selection, predation risk and seasonality across passerines. Ecology Letters 22 (11), pp. 1838 - 1849 (2019)
Journal Article
Santema, P.; Valcu, M.; Clinchy, M.; Zanette, L. Y.; Kempenaers, B.: Effects of predator call playbacks on reproductive success and extrapair paternity in blue tits. Animal Behaviour 155, pp. 97 - 109 (2019)
Journal Article
Santema, P.; Valcu, M.; Clinchy, M.; Zanette, L. Y.; Kempenaers, B.: Playback of predator calls inhibits and delays dawn singing in a songbird community. Behavioral Ecology 30 (5), pp. 1283 - 1288 (2019)
Journal Article
Valcu, C.-M.; Scheltema, R. A.; Schweiggert, R. M.; Valcu, M.; Teltscher, K. L.; Walther, D. M.; Carle, R.; Kempenaers, B.: Life history shapes variation in egg composition in the blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus. Communications Biology 2, 6 (2019)
Journal Article
Wang, D.; Forstmeier, W.; Valcu, M.; Dingemanse, N. J.; Bulla, M.; Both, C.; Duckworth, R. A.; Kiere, L. M.; Karell, P.; Albrecht, T. et al.: Scrutinizing assortative mating in birds. PLoS Biology 17 (2), e3000156 (2019)
2018
Journal Article
Pei, Y.; Valcu, M.; Kempenaers, B.: Interference competition pressure predicts the number of avian predators that shifted their timing of activity. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 285 (1880), 20180744 (2018)
2017
Journal Article
Gilsenan, C.; Valcu, M.; Kempenaers, B.: Difference in arrival date at the breeding site between former pair members predicts divorce in blue tits. Animal Behaviour 133, pp. 57 - 72 (2017)
Journal Article
Kappers, E. F.; Chakarov, N.; Krüger, O.; Mueller, A. K.; Valcu, M.; Kempenaers, B.; Both, C.: Classification and temporal stability of plumage variation in Common Buzzards. Ardea 105 (2), pp. 125 - 136 (2017)
Journal Article
Kempenaers, B.; Valcu, M.: Breeding site sampling across the Arctic by individual males of a polygynous shorebird. Nature 541 (7638), pp. 528 - 531 (2017)
2016
Journal Article
Bulla, M.; Valcu, M.; Dokter, A. M.; Dondua, A. G.; Kosztolányi, A.; Rutten, A. L.; Helm, B.; Sandercock, B. K.; Casler, B.; Ens, B. J. et al.: Unexpected diversity in socially synchronized rhythms of shorebirds. Nature 540 (7631), pp. 109 - 113 (2016)
Journal Article
Da Silva, A.; Valcu, M.; Kempenaers, B.: Behavioural plasticity in the onset of dawn song under intermittent experimental night lighting. Animal Behaviour 117, pp. 155 - 165 (2016)
Journal Article
Webb, W. H.; Brunton, D. H.; Aguirre, J. D.; Thomas, D. B.; Valcu, M.; Dale, J.: Female song occurs in songbirds with more elaborate female coloration and reduced sexual dichromatism. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 4, 22 (2016)
2015
Journal Article
Bulla, M.; Cresswell, W.; Rutten, A. L.; Valcu, M.; Kempenaers, B.: Biparental incubation-scheduling: No experimental evidence for major energetic constraints. Behavioral Ecology 26 (1), pp. 30 - 37 (2015)
Journal Article
Bulla, M.; Stich, E.; Valcu, M.; Kempenaers, B.: Off-nest behaviour in a biparentally incubating shorebird varies with sex, time of day and weather. Ibis 157 (3), pp. 575 - 589 (2015)
Journal Article
Da Silva, A.; Valcu, M.; Kempenaers, B.: Light pollution alters the phenology of dawn and dusk singing in common European songbirds. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Series B: Biological Sciences 370 (1667), 20140126 (2015)