Nest-dismantling behavior in birds is considered afitness-maximizing adaptive behavior. Here, we compared nest-dismantling behavior and associated predation rates and nestcharacteristics in yellow-bellied prinia (Prinia flaviventris) onmainland China and the island of Taiwan during the breedingseason from 2010 to 2014. Our results indicated that the pro-portion of individuals showing nest-dismantling behavior washigher on the island than on the mainland (29.3 vs. 0.8%). Nest-dismantling behavior was most frequent at the peak of the breeding season and mainly involved removing the upperhalves of the nests and reusing the materials to construct newnests. The time taken to dismantle old nests and use the mate-rials to build new ones was shorter than the time needed to buildcompletely new nests. Nest predation, fidelity to the nest site,distance between old and new nests, and the costs of searchingfor nest materials could influence nest-dismantling behavior. Our results suggested that saving time and energy searchingfor new nest materials was the primary motivation behindnest-dismantling behavior in yellow-bellied prinia.

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• Nest-dismantling behavior of yellow-bellied prinia in mainland and island populations