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Streetlights turn young duds into studs

Nocturnal illumination starts male blue tits singing earlier, attracting wandering females

By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

Nesting near a streetlight brightens the chances of philandering for young male birds.

EARLY RISER Young male blue tits that nest near streetlights start singing earlier in the morning and are more likely to father illicit chicks with another male’s mate. FrankDrebin/Wikimedia Commons

Among birds called blue tits in a forest on the outskirts of Vienna, a yearling male often fathers at least one illicit chick if he nests within 50 meters of a lamppost, says Bart Kempenaers of the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Seewiesen, Germany.