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

2025

Požgayová M, Samaš P, Šulc M, Štětková G, Jelínek V, Honza M, Procházka P (2025). The number of brood parasite visits affects subsequent aggression towards the parasite dummy in host males, but not in females. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 79: 12.

2024

Gvoždíková Javůrková V, Brlík V, Heneberg P, Požgayová M, Procházka P, Dietz MW, Salles JF, Tieleman BI (2024). Host traits rather than migration and molting strategies explain feather bacterial load in Palearctic passerines. iScience, 27:1205 111079.
Honza M, Štětková G, Požgayová M, Samaš P (2024). Host nest defence does not act as selective agent against plumage polymorphism in brood parasites. Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences, 291: 20241135.
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: 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: 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). 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.
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.

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.