The concepts of floater and hooligan, with a focus on the African Oystercatcher Haematopus moquini

Abstract

The primary idea behind the concept of a floater is the occurrence of non-territorial individuals which move over large areas, waiting for an opportunity to join the breeding population. A hooligan is defined here as a floater which behaves aggressively, even engaging in fighting to disrupt breeding pairs in order to gain a territory.