RNDr. Petr Procházka Ph.D.

Position full-time researcher
Direction behavioural ecology and migration of birds

+420 543 422 550
+420 723422117

Research interests

Adopting different approaches I am investigating various aspects of brood parasitism and migratory connectivity in birds and their consequences for reproductive performance and population ecology.

Petr Procházka

Twitter: @czechcuckoolab

Running Projects

Integrating migration patterns, phenology, year-round habitat use and demography to understand drivers of population dynamics in migratory birds (2020–2022)

Finished projects

Linking events through the annual cycle: the importance of carry-over effects for the ecology of migratory birds (2013–2017)
Geographical gradients of avian diversity in sub-Saharan Africa: A life history perspective (2011–2015)
The importance of migratory connectivity for the population ecology of long-distance migrants: a model study on the Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) (2012–2015)
European Reed Warbler populations across a migratory divide: insights into migration by analyses of DNA sequences, stable isotopes and ringing recoveries (2005–2007)

Please, feel free to send me an e-mail if you need PDF copies of my papers.

Current students

  • Vojtěch Brlík: Stable isotope ecology on the move: from improving continental-wide isoscapes to tracing non-breeding habitat conditions and year-round niche use (Ph.D. thesis).
  • Mgr. Kateřina Sosnovcová: Factors affecting population ecology of long-distance migratory birds, (Ph.D. thesis).
  • Petra Zichová: Spatial and migration ecology of the common cuckoo (BSc. thesis).

Former students

  • Lukáš Kulísek, 2017: Host nest predation by brood parasites: critical assessment of current hypotheses, (BSc. thesis).
  • Mgr. Václav Jelínek, 2017: The role of the nest in the reproduction of the great reed warbler, (Ph.D. thesis).
  • Petra Baslerová, 2014: Factors affecting breeding and natal dispersal in the great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus).
  • Lucie Halová, 2013: Proximate factors affecting nestling begging in passerines and their broodparasites.
  • Michal Šulc, 2012: The role of UV reflection in parasitic egg rejection in the reed warbler.
  • Drahomíra Fainová, 2008: Genetic variation and differentiation of Eurasian reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) populations.
  • Richard Policht, 2004: Migration of the reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Publications

2020

Briedis M, Bauer S, Adamík P, Alves JA, Costa JS, Emmenegger T, Gustafsson L, Koleček J, Krist M, Liechti F, Lisovski S, Meier CM, Procházka P, Hahn S (2020). Broad-scale patterns of the Afro-Palaearctic landbird migration. Global Ecology and Biogeography.
Brlík V, Koleček J, Burgess M, Hahn S, Humple D, Krist M, Ouwehand J, Weiser EL, Adamík P, Alves JA, Arlt D, Barišić S, Becker D, Belda EJ, Beran V, Both C, Bravo SP, Briedis M, Chutný B, Ćiković D, Cooper NW, Costa JS, Cueto VR, Emmenegger T, Fraser K, Gilg O, Guerrero M, Hallworth MT, Hewson C, Jiguet F, Johnson JA, Kelly T, Kishkinev D, Leconte M, Lislevand T, Lisovski S, López C, McFarland KP, Marra PP, Matsuoka SM, Matyjasiak P, Meier CM, Metzger B, Monrós JS, Neumann R, Newman A, Norris R, Pärt T, Pavel V, Perlut N, Piha M, Reneerkens J, Rimmer CC, Roberto-Charron A, Scandolara C, Sokolova N, Takenaka M, Tolkmitt D, van Oosten H, Wellbrock AH, Wheeler H, van der Winden J, Witte K, Woodworth BK, Procházka P (2020). Weak effects of geolocators on small birds: a meta-analysis controlled for phylogeny and publication bias. Journal of Animal Ecology, 89, 207-220.
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.

2019

Briedis M, Bauer S, Adamík P, Alves JA, Costa JS, Emmenegger T, Gustafsson L, Koleček J, Liechti F, Meier CM, Procházka P, Hahn S (2019). A full annual perspective on sex-biased migration timing in long-distance migratory birds. Proceedings of the Royal Society. B - Biological Sciences, 286, 20182821.
Diblíková L, Pipek P, Petrusek A, Svoboda J, Bílková J, Vermouzek Z, Procházka P, Petrusková T (2019). Detailed large-scale mapping of geographical variation of Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella song dialects in a citizen science project. Ibis, 161, 401-414.
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.
Jiguet F, Burgess M, Thorup K, Conway G, Arroyo Matos JL, Barber L, Black J, Burton N, Castelló J, Clewley G, Copete JL, Czajkowski MA, Dale S, Davis T, Dombrovski V, Drew M, Elts J, Gilson V, Grzegorczyk E, Henderson I, Holdsworth M, Husbands R, Lorrilliere R, Marja R, Minkevicius S, Moussy C, Olsson P, Onrubia A, Pérez M, Piacentini J, Piha M, Pons JM, Procházka P, Raković M, Robins H, Seimola T, Selstam G, Skierczyński M, Sondell J, Thibault JC, Tøttrup AP, Walker J, Hewson C (2019). Desert crossing strategies of migrant songbirds vary between and within species. Scientific Reports, 9, 20248.
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

Brlík V, Ilieva M, Lisovski S, Voigt CC, Procházka P (2018). First insights into the migration route and migratory connectivity of the Paddyfield Warbler using geolocator tagging and stable isotope analysis. Journal of Ornithology, 159, 879-882.
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.
Koleček J, Procházka P, Ieronymidou C, Burfield IJ, Reif J (2018). Non-breeding range size predicts the magnitude of population trends in trans-Saharan migratory passerine birds. Oikos, 127, 599-606.
Koleček J, Hahn S, Emmenegger T, Procházka P (2018). Intra-tropical movements as a beneficial strategy for Palearctic migratory birds. Royal Society Open Science, 5, 171675.
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.
Procházka P, Brlík V, Yohannes E, Meister B, Auerswald J, Ilieva M, Hahn S (2018). Across a migratory divide: divergent migration directions and non-breeding grounds of Eurasian reed warblers revealed by geolocators and stable isotopes. Journal of avian biology, 49, e01769.
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

Ambühl P, Van Boheemen S, Pipek P, Procházka P, Ehrengruber MU (2017). Gesangsdialekte der Goldammer Emberiza citrinella in der Schweiz. Ornithologische Beobachter, 114, 1-10.
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.
Igic B, Hauber ME, Moskát C, Grim T, Shawkey MD, Procházka P, Honza M (2017). Brood parasite and host eggshells undergo similar levels of decalcification during embryonic development. Journal of Zoology, 301, 165-173.
Kropáčková L, Těšický M, Albrecht T, Kubovčiak J, Čížková D, Tomášek O, Martin J, Bobek L, Králová T, Procházka P, Kreisinger J (2017). Codiversification of gastrointestinal microbiota and phylogenyin passerines is not explained by ecological divergence. Molecular Ecology, 26, 5292-5304.
Procházka P, Hahn S, Rolland S, van der Jeugd H, Csörgö T, Jiguet F, Mokwa T, Liechti F, Vangeluwe D, Korner-Nievergelt F (2017). Delineating large-scale migratory connectivity of reed warblers using integrated multistate models. Diversity and Distributions, 23, 27-40.

2016

Adamík P, Emmenegger T, Briedis M, Gustafsson L, Henshaw I, Krist M, Laaksonen T, Liechti F, Procházka P, Salewski V, Hahn S (2016). Barrier crossing in small avian migrants: individual tracking reveals prolonged nocturnal flights into the day as a common migratory strategy. Scientific Reports, 6, 21560.
Jelínek V, Karasová T, Weidinger K, Procházka P, Honza M (2016). Do common cuckoo chicks suffer nest predation more than host nestlings?. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 70, 1975-1987.
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.
Koleček J, Procházka P, El-Arabany N, Tarka M, Ilieva M, Hahn S, Honza M, de la Puente J, Bermejo A, Gürsoy A, Bensch S, Zehtindjiev P, Hasselquist D, Hansson B (2016). Cross-continental migratory connectivity and spatiotemporal migratory patterns in the great reed warbler. Journal of avian biology, 47, 756-767.
Reifová R, Majerová V, Reif J, Ahola M, Lindholm A, Procházka P (2016). Patterns of gene flow and selection across multiple species of Acrocephalus warblers: footprints of parallel selection on the Z chromosome. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 16, 130.
Šulc M, Procházka P, Čapek M, Honza M (2016). Common cuckoo females are not choosy when removing an egg during parasitism. Behavioral Ecology, 27, 1642-1649.
Šulc M, Procházka P, Čapek M, Honza M (2016). Birds use eggshell UV reflectance when recognizing non-mimetic parasitic eggs. Behavioral Ecology, 27, 677-684.
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.
Honza M, Feikusová K, Procházka P, Picman J (2015). How to hatch from the Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) egg: implications of strong eggshells for the hatching muscle (musculus complexus). Journal of Ornithology, 156, 679-685.
Jelínek V, Procházka P, Honza M (2015). Experimental enlargement of nest size does not increase risk of predation or brood parasitism in the Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus. Ibis, 157, 396-400.
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.
Petrusková T, Diblíková L, Pipek P, Frauendorf E, Procházka P, Petrusek A (2015). A review of the distribution of Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) dialects in Europe reveals the lack of a clear macrogeographic pattern. Journal of Ornithology, 156, 263-273.
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

Grim T, Samaš P, Procházka P, Rutila J (2014). Are tits really unsuitable hosts for the Common Cuckoo?. Ornis Fennica, 91, 166-177.
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. Naturwissenschaften, 101, 417-426.
Procházka P, Kralj J, Pearson DJ, Yohannes E (2014). Moulting and wintering grounds of Marsh Warblers Acrocephalus palustris: evidence from stable isotopes and ring recoveries. Acta Ornithologica, 49, 193-200.

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.
Procházka P, Van Wilgenburg SL, Neto JM, Yosef R, Hobson KA (2013). Using stable hydrogen isotopes (delta2H) and ring recoveries to trace natal origins in a Eurasian passerine with a migratory divide. Journal of avian biology, 44, 541-550.
Schovancová K, Pomajbíková K, Procházka P, Modrý D, Bolechová P, Petrželková KJ (2013). Preliminary Insights into the Impact of Dietary Starch on the Ciliate, Neobalantidium coli, in Captive Chimpanzees. PLoS ONE, 8, e81374.

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.
Najer T, Sychra O, Literák I, Procházka P, Čapek M, Koubek P (2012). Chewing lice (Phthiraptera) from wild birds in Senegal, with descriptions of three new species of the genera Brueelia and Philopteroides. Acta Parasitologica, 57, 90-98.
Neto JM, Arroyo JL, Bargain B, Monrós JS, Mátrai N, Procházka P, Zehtindjiev P (2012). Phylogeography of a habitat specialist with high dispersal capability: the Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinioides. PLoS ONE, 7, e38497.
Procházka P, Jelínek V, Požgayová M, Honza M (2012). Jak určovat stáří rákosníků velkých (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) po úplném pelichání. Sylvia, 48, 57-73.
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

Avilés JM, Vikan JR, Fossoy F, Antonov A, Moksnes A, Roskaft E, Shykoff J, Moller AP, Jensen H, Procházka P, Stokke BG (2011). The common cuckoo Cuculus canorus is not locally adapted to its reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus host. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 24, 314-325.
Honza M, Procházka P, Morongová K, Čapek M, Jelínek V (2011). Do nest light conditions affect rejection of parasitic eggs? A test of the light environment hypothesis. Ethology, 117, 539-546.
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. Naturwissenschaften, 98, 493-499.
Polačiková L, Hauber ME, Procházka P, Cassey P, Honza M, Grim T (2011). A sum of its individual parts? Relative contributions of different eggshell regions to intraclutch variation in birds. Journal of avian biology, 42, 370-373.
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.
Procházka P, Stokke BG, Jensen H, Fainová D, Bellinvia E, Fossoy F, Vikan JR, Bryja J, Soler M (2011). Low genetic differentiation among reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus populations across Europe. Journal of avian biology, 42, 103-113.

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.
Kralj J, Procházka P, Fainová D, Patzenhauerová H, Tutiš V (2010). Intraspecific variation in the wing shape and genetic differentiation of Reed Warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus in Croatia. Acta Ornithologica, 45, 51-58.
Polačiková L, Stokke BG, Procházka P, Honza M, Moksnes A, Roskaft E (2010). The role of blunt egg pole characteristics for recognition of eggs in the song thrush (Turdus philomelos). Behaviour, 147, 465-478.
Procházka P, Reif J, Hořák D, Klvaňa P, Lee RW, Yohannes E (2010). Using stable isotopes to trace resource acquisition and trophic position in four Afrotropical birds with different diets. Ostrich, 81, 273-275.
Sychra O, Barlev E, Literák I, Čapek M, Koubek P, Procházka P (2010). The chewing lice (Phthiraptera) of red-billed quelea (Quelea quelea) in Senegal, with a description of a new species. African Entomology, 18, 17-22.
Sychra O, Literák I, Najer T, Čapek M, Koubek P, Procházka P (2010). Chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) from estrildid finches (Aves: Passeriformes: Estrildidae) and louse-flies (Insecta: Diptera: Hippoboscidae) from birds in Senegal, with descriptions of three new species of the genus Brueelia. Zootaxa, 2714, 59-68.

2009

Polačiková L, Procházka P, Cherry MI, Honza M (2009). Choosing suitable hosts: common cuckoos Cuculus canorus parasitize great reed warblers Acrocephalus arundinaceus of high quality. Evolutionary Ecology, 23, 879-891.
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.

2008

Procházka P, Hobson KA, Karcza Z, Kralj J (2008). Birds of a feather winter together: migratory connectivity in the Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus. Journal of Ornithology, 149, 141-150.
Procházka P, Bellinvia E, Fainová D, Hájková P, Elhalah A, Alomari K (2008). Immigration as a possible rescue of a reduced population of a long-distant migratory bird: Reed warblers in the Azraq Oasis, Jordan. Journal of Arid Environments, 72, 1184-1192.
Sychra O, Jensen J, Brooke MdL, Trnka A, Procházka P, Literák I (2008). The identity of Menacanthus eisenachensis Balát (Insecta: Phthiraptera: Amblycera: Menoponidae) from the Reed Warbler (Passeriformes: Sylviidae). Acta Parasitologica, 53, 404-406.

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.
Honza M, Polačiková L, Procházka P (2007). Ultraviolet and green parts of the colour spectrum affect egg rejection in the song thrush (Turdus philomelos). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 92, 269-276.
Polačiková L, Honza M, Procházka P, Topercer J, Stokke BG (2007). Colour characteristics of the blunt egg pole: cues for recognition of parasitic eggs as revealed by reflectance spectrophotometry. Animal Behaviour, 74, 419-427.
Procházka P, Požgayová M, Honza M (2007). Zajímavý případ mezidruhové krádeže hnízdního materiálu. Sluka, 4, 91-94.
Stokke BG, Hafstad I, Rudolfsen G, Bargain B, Beier J, Campas DB, Dyrcz A, Honza M, Leisler B, Pap PL, Patapavičius R, Procházka P, Schulze-Hagen K, Thomas R, Moksnes A, Møller AP, Roskaft E, Soler M (2007). Host density predicts presence of cuckoo parasitism in reed warblers. Oikos, 116, 913-922.
Šicha V, Procházka P, Honza M (2007). Hopeless solicitation? Host-absent vocalization in the common cuckoo has no effect on feeding rate of reed warblers. Journal of Ethology, 25, 147-152.

2006

Honza M, Šicha V, Procházka P, Ležalová R (2006). Host nest defense against a color-dimorphic brood parasite: great reed warblers (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) versus common cuckoos (Cuculus canorus). Journal of Ornithology, 147, 629-637.
Procházka P (2006). Analýza stabilních izotopů – alternativní metoda studia migrace ptáků. Sylvia, 42, 3-21.

2005

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

2004

Honza M, Procházka P, Stokke BG, Moksnes A, Roskaft E, Čapek Jr. M, Mrlík V (2004). Are blackcaps current winners in the evolutionary struggle against the common cuckoo?. Journal of Ethology, 22, 175-180.
Hořák D, Klvaňa P, Procházka P (2004). Vliv vysychání mokřadu na druhové složení a početnost chytaných pěvců. Sylvia, 40, 111-118.
Procházka P, Honza M (2004). Egg discrimination in the Yellowhammer. Condor, 106, 405-410.

2003

Hořák D, Procházka P, Cepák J, Zárybnický J (2003). Tahové poměry sýkořic vousatých (Panurus biarmicus) na území České republiky a Slovenska. Sylvia, 39, 79-94.
, Málková P, Procházka P (2003). Proceedings of the European Conference Black Grouse - endangered species of Europe. Prague, 8-12 September 2003. Sylvia, 39, 1-128.
Procházka P, Honza M (2003). Do common whitethroats (Sylvia communis) discriminate against alien eggs?. Journal für Ornithologie, 144, 354-363.

2002

Procházka P, Reif J (2002). Movements and settling patterns of Sedge Warblers (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) in the Czech Republic and Slovakia - an analysis of ringing recoveries. The Ring, 24, 3-13.