Mgr. Milica Požgayová Ph.D.

Position grant funded researcher
Direction behavioural ecology

+420 543 422 550

Research interests

  • behavioural aspects of brood parasite–host interactions, mainly in host antiparasitic defences,
  • sex-specific parental investments in the polygynous great reed warbler.

Former students

Beňo Radovan

Publications

2024

Požgayová M, Honza M, Procházka P (2024). Low breeding synchrony of great reed warbler hosts in warmer springs does not increase their susceptibility to common cuckoo parasitism. Journal of Vertebrate Biology, 73:1205 23108.

2022

Honza M, Koleček J, Piálek L, Piálková R, Požgayová M, Procházka P, Štětková G, Jelínek V, Hughes AE, Šulc M (2022). Multiple parasitism in an evictor brood parasite: patterns revealed by long-term monitoring, continuous video recording, and genetic analyses. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 76: 161.
Požgayová M, Koleček J, Honza M, Procházka P (2022). Is there an effect of fostering a brood parasite on the timing of host autumn migration?. Journal of Ornithology, 163: 417-423.
Šulc M, Hughes AE, Troscianko J, Štětková G, Procházka P, Požgayová M, Piálek L, Piálková R, Brlík V, Honza M (2022). Automatic identification of bird females using egg phenotype. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 195: 33-44.

2021

Koleček J, Piálková R, Piálek L, Šulc M, Hughes AE, Brlík V, Procházka P, Požgayová M, Čapek M, Sosnovcová K, Štětková G, Valterová R, Honza M (2021). Spatiotemporal patterns of egg laying in the common cuckoo. Animal Behaviour, 177: 107-116.
Trnka A, Fenďa P, Požgayová M, Procházka P (2021). Common generalist mites do not transmit from foster parents to brood parasitic chicks. Journal of Zoology, 313: 195-201.

2020

Honza M, Požgayová M, Procházka P, Koleček J (2020). Errors in egg‐laying by female Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus in nests of its common host. Ibis, 162: 637-644.
Samaš P, Žabková K, Petrusková T, Procházka P, Požgayová M, Honza M (2020). Nestlings of the common cuckoo do not mimic begging calls of two closely related Acrocephalus hosts. Animal Behaviour, 161: 89-94.
Schmiedová L, Kreisinger J, Požgayová M, Honza M, Martin J, Procházka P (2020). Gut microbiota in a host–brood parasite system: insights from common cuckoos raised by two warbler species. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 96: fiaa143.
Sosnovcová K, Požgayová M, Procházka P, Honza M, Koleček J (2020). Within-season dispersal does not protect re-nesting great reed warblers (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) from repeated common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) parasitism. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 74: 69.
Šulc M, Štětková G, Procházka P, Požgayová M, Sosnovcová K, Studecký J, Honza M (2020). Caught on camera: circumstantial evidence for fatal mobbing of an avian brood parasite by a host. Journal of Vertebrate Biology, 69:1205 20027.
Valterová R, Procházka P, Požgayová M, Piálková R, Piálek L, Šulc M, Honza M (2020). Son or daughter, it does not matter: brood parasites do not adjust offspring sex based on their own or host quality. Journal of Ornithology, 161: 977-986.

2019

Gvoždíková Javůrková V, Kreisinger J, Procházka P, Požgayová M, Ševčíková K, Brlík V, Adamík P, Heneberg P, Porkert J (2019). Unveiled feather microcosm: feather microbiota of passerine birds is closely associated with host species identity and bacteriocin-producing bacteria. The ISME Journal, 13: 2363-2376.
Koleček J, Šulc M, Piálková R, Troscianko J, Požgayová M, Honza M, Procházka P (2019). Rufous Common Cuckoo chicks are not always female. Journal of Ornithology, 160: 155-163.

2018

Honza M, Požgayová M, Petrželková A, Procházka P (2018). Does host-absent vocalisation of common cuckoo chicks increase hosts’ food provisioning behaviour?. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 72: 121.
Požgayová M, Piálková R, Honza M, Procházka P (2018). Sex-specific nestling growth in an obligate brood parasite: Common Cuckoo males grow larger than females. Auk, 135: 1033-1042.
Sosnovcová K, Koleček J, Požgayová M, Jelínek V, Šulc M, Steidlová P, Honza M, Procházka P (2018). Timing of natal nests is an important factor affecting return rates of juvenile Great Reed Warblers. Journal of Ornithology, 159: 183-190.

2017

Čapek M, Petrusková T, Šebelíková Z, Serrano JC, Procházka P, Honza M, Požgayová M (2017). Great Reed Warbler singing behavior and conspicuous song structures are not nest-location cues for the Common Cuckoo. Journal of Ornithology, 158: 925-933.
Trnka A, Požgayová M (2017). Does conspicuous colouration of Magpies Pica pica influence aggressive behaviour in nesting Great Reed Warblers Acrocephalus arundinaceus?. Bird Study, 64: 108-111.

2016

Jelínek V, Požgayová M, Honza M, Procházka P (2016). Nest as an extended phenotype signal of female quality in the great reed warbler. Journal of Avian Biology, 47: 428-437.
Trnka A, Požgayová M, Procházka P, Čapek M, Honza M (2016). Chemical defence in avian brood parasites: production and function of repulsive secretions in common cuckoo chicks. Journal of Avian Biology, 47: 288-293.

2015

Abraham MM, Požgayová M, Procházka P, Piálková R, Honza M (2015). Is there a sex-specific difference between parasitic chicks in begging behaviour?. Journal of Ethology, 33: 151-158.
Koleček J, Jelínek V, Požgayová M, Trnka A, Baslerová P, Honza M, Procházka P (2015). Breeding success and brood parasitism affect return rate and dispersal distances in the great reed warbler. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 69: 1845-1853.
Požgayová M, Beňo R, Procházka P, Jelínek V, Abraham MM, Honza M (2015). Lazy males and hardworking females? Sexual conflict over parental care in a brood parasite host and its consequences for chick growth. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 69: 1053-1061.

2014

Honza M, Šulc M, Jelínek V, Požgayová M, Procházka P (2014). Brood parasites lay eggs matching the appearance of host clutches. Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences, 281: 20132665.
Jelínek V, Procházka P, Požgayová M, Honza M (2014). Common cuckoos Cuculus canorus change their nest-searching strategy according to the number of available host nests. Ibis, 156: 189-197.
Procházka P, Konvičková-Patzenhauerová H, Požgayová M, Trnka A, Jelínek V, Honza M (2014). Host genotype and age have no effect on rejection of parasitic eggs. Science of Nature, eNaturwissenschaften.

2013

Požgayová M, Procházka P, Honza M (2013). Is shared male assistance with antiparasitic nest defence costly in the polygynous great reed warbler?. Animal Behaviour, 85: 615-621.
Trnka A, Požgayová M, Samaš P, Honza M (2013). Repeatability of host female and male aggression towards a brood parasite. Ethology, 119: 907-917.

2012

Honza M, Procházka P, Požgayová M (2012). Within- and between-season repeatability of eggshell colouration in the great reed warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus. Journal of Avian Biology, 43: 91-96.
Honza M, Procházka P, Požgayová M (2012). Do weather conditions affect the colouration of great reed warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus eggs?. Folia zoologica, 61: 219-224.
Procházka P, Jelínek V, Požgayová M, Honza M (2012). Jak určovat stáří rákosníků velkých (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) po úplném pelichání. Sylvia, 48: 57-731210 .
Trnka A, Požgayová M, Procházka P, Prokop P, Honza M (2012). Breeding success of a brood parasite is associated with social mating status of its host. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 66: 1187-1194.

2011

Honza M, Požgayová M, Procházka P, Cherry MI (2011). Blue-green eggshell coloration is not a sexually selected signal of female quality in an open-nesting polygynous passerine. Science of Nature, eNaturwissenschaften.
Požgayová M, Procházka P, Polačiková L, Honza M (2011). Closer clutch inspection—quicker egg ejection: timing of host responses toward parasitic eggs. Behavioral Ecology, 22: 46-51.

2010

Čapek M, Požgayová M, Procházka P, Honza M (2010). Repeated presentations of the Common Cuckoo increase nest defense by the Eurasian Reed Warbler but do not induce it to make recognition errors. Condor, 112: 763-769.
Honza M, Procházka P, Šicha V, Požgayová M (2010). Nest defence in a cuckoo host: great reed warblers risk themselves equally for their own and parasitic chicks. Behaviour, 147: 741-756.

2009

Požgayová M, Procházka P, Honza M (2009). Sex-specific defence behaviour against brood parasitism in a host with female-only incubation. Behavioural Processes, 81: 34-38.
Požgayová M, Procházka P, Honza M (2009). Adjustment of incubation according to the threat posed: a further signal of enemy recognition in the Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla?. Journal of Ornithology, 150: 569-576.

2007

Honza M, Požgayová M, Procházka P, Tkadlec E (2007). Consistency in egg rejection behaviour: responses to repeated brood parasitism in the blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla). Ethology, 113: 344-351.
Procházka P, Požgayová M, Honza M (2007). Zajímavý případ mezidruhové krádeže hnízdního materiálu. Sluka, 4: 91-94.

2005

Požgayová M, Procházka P, Honza M (2005). Predace snůšky pěnice černohlavé (Sylvia atricapilla) strakapoudem velkým (Dendrocopos major). Sluka, 2: 97-101.