Relationship of host coloniality to the population ecology of avian lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera)

1. We test the hypothesis that avian social system (territorial versus colonial) has an impact on the ecological characteristics of avian lice. We compared the louse loads of two congeneric host species, the territorial hooded crow (Corvus corone cornix L.) and the colonial rook (C. frugilegus L.). Each species harboured the same 5 genera of lice; one species of louse was shared, while the other four species on each host were host-specific.