Rare or rarely observed behaviors may represent important components of a species’ life history and may provide valuable insight into the evolution and maintenance of behavioral traits. Rare behaviors, however, frequently go undocumented, limiting our ability to fully evaluate the distribution of behavioral traits within a species’ repertoire or among related species. Understanding the frequency of events or traits that have consequences for a bird’s fitness may help clarify their evolution.
Here, I describe three apparently rare behaviors observed in high-elevation breeding passerines that have been reported only once or never previously in the literature. In particular, I document reuse of a nest site by Western Wood-Pewees (Contopus sordidulus), nest building by a juvenile American Robin (Turdus migratorius), and helping behavior in Chipping Sparrows (Spizella passerina).