Editing Troodon (section)

=== Communal nesting ===
[[File:Large clutch of fossilized Troodon eggs.jpg|thumb|Large clutch of fossilized Troodon eggs]]
A 2023 study using presumed ''Troodon'' eggshells from the [[Oldman Formation]] used [[Clumped isotopes|clumped isotope]] thermometry to determine their formation and development. The study found that in contrast to the accelerated mineralization of eggs in modern birds, ''Troodon'' and likely other non-avian [[Maniraptora|maniraptorans]] had slowed egg calcification akin to other reptiles. This would indicate that, unlike birds, ''Troodon'' and other maniraptorans had two functional [[Ovary|ovaries]] that would limit the number of eggs produced. Thus, the study concluded that the large clutches of fossilized eggs present in the formation, despite the limited egg production each individual had, would indicate that ''Troodon'' had communal nesting behavior, where eggs would be laid together at a single nest by multiple females, forming large clutches. This is a strategy also used by some modern birds, such as [[Ostrich|ostriches]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Tagliavento |first1=Mattia |last2=Davies |first2=Amelia J. |last3=Bernecker |first3=Miguel |last4=Fiebig |first4=Jens |date=April 3, 2023 |title=Evidence for heterothermic endothermy and reptile-like eggshell mineralization in Troodon, a non-avian maniraptoran theropod |journal=[[PNAS]] |volume=120 |issue=15 |pages=e2213987120|doi=10.1073/pnas.2213987120 |doi-access=free |pmid=37011196 |pmc=10104568 |bibcode=2023PNAS..12013987T }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-03 |title=Troodons laid eggs in communal nests just like modern ostriches |url=https://www.popsci.com/environment/troodons-eggs-dinosaur-ostrich/ |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=Popular Science |language=en-US}}</ref>