Data from: Deceiving predators: linking distraction behavior with nest survival in a ground-nesting bird

Individual behavior that minimizes predation risk is favored by natural selection. Ground-nesting birds employ different defensive behaviors as part of their antipredator strategies because they nest where a wide range of predators have access. We investigated the influence of distraction displays on breeding success in the Kentish Plover, Charadrius alexandrinus, in order to explore the role of the defensive behavior on nest survival. We quantified the intensity of defensive behavior of adult plovers in response to nest disturbance caused by an approaching researcher, by ranking display types according to the intensity and exposure to predation. We also examined sex differences in nest def…