Editing Helpers at the nest (section)

== Misconceptions ==
Although it is frequently assumed that helpers are non-breeders, molecular evidence suggests that this may happen, and the term "secondary helper" is sometimes used in this case to indicate helpers that mate with or are not related offspring of the pair being assisted. The term "primary helper" being used for the commoner case of the helper being offspring of the pair and not involved in mating.<ref>Ligon, J. D.; Burt, D. B. (2004) "Evolutionary origins" in ''Ecology and evolution of cooperative breeding in birds'' by Walter D. Koenig, Janis L. Dickinson. Cambridge University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-521-53099-6}}</ref> Extrapair mates are chosen by the females and are these then contribute to the care of the young who may be sired by them.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Female extrapair mate choice in a cooperative breeder: trading sex for help and increasing offspring heterozygosity|author = Rubenstein, DR |doi=10.1098/rspb.2007.0424 |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society B |year= 2007|volume=274| issue=1620 | pages=1895–1903|pmid=17526455|pmc=2270931 }}</ref>

Juveniles living in association with their parents cannot automatically be regarded as helpers. In a number of species, such as [[Orthonychidae|the logrunners]]<ref>{{cite journal|author=Frith, C.B., Frith, D.W. & Jansen, A. |year=1997|title=The nesting biology of the Chowchilla ''Orthonyx spaldingii'' (Orthonychidae)|doi=10.1071/MU97002|journal=Emu|volume=97|issue=1 |pages=18–30 |bibcode=1997EmuAO..97...18F }}</ref> and the [[Siberian jay]], young remain in the parental territory, but never help feed nestlings. However the delayed advantage explanation for the juveniles' association with their parents can still work in the absence of effective helping, whereas the kin selection explanation cannot.