Which bird forms a cooperative breeding group with help from other kingfishers?

Which bird forms a cooperative breeding group with help from other kingfishers?

• A. Pied kingfisher
• B. Snow goose
• C. Marabou stork
• D. Striated heron

Answer: (A)

Cooperative breeding is when non-breeding adults help a breeding pair raise their young, increasing the brood’s survival through extra feeding and nest defense. Among these birds, the pied kingfisher is known to form such groups with helpers from other kingfishers, assisting with feeding and guarding the nest. The snow goose nests in colonies and migrates in flocks but does not rely on helpers for raising young. The marabou stork breeds in colonies too, yet it doesn’t exhibit dedicated helper individuals aiding a specific nest. The striated heron typically breeds in pairs or small groups without cooperative helpers. So, the pied kingfisher is the one that forms cooperative breeding groups with help from other kingfishers.