Breeding Biology of the Sylvia Warblers

Mason, C. F.

doi:10.1080/00063657609476506

Cited by 45 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…We hypothesize that heterogeneity functions in the same manner as width, providing birds with varied niches. Brambles and nettles had the greatest influence on the distribution of Common Whitethroat, which uses these habitats most frequently for nesting (Persson 1971, Mason 1976, Bocheń ski 1985, Hałupka et al 2002. Our results also support those reported by Stoate and Szczur (2001) who showed that Common Whitethroats in field boundaries use brambles and nettles most frequently as nest sites.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

“…Tree number had a relatively small effect on the occurrence of Sylvia warblers within particular sections. Because birds preferred only low tree density we assume, as Polak (2012), that trees may function as song posts or may be used for foraging (Hałupka et al 2002) rather than for nesting (Mason 1976, Bocheń ski 1985. All species avoided a high proportion of low vegetation which may be related to reducing foraging (Hałupka et al 2002).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Structural heterogeneity of linear habitats positively affects Barred WarblerSylvia nisoria, Common WhitethroatSylvia communisand Lesser WhitethroatSylvia currucain farmland of Western Poland

Szymański

Antczak

2013

Bird Study

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural heterogeneity of linear habitats positively affects Barred WarblerSylvia nisoria, Common WhitethroatSylvia communisand Lesser WhitethroatSylvia currucain farmland of Western Poland

Szymański

Antczak

2013

Bird Study

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“…This paper relies heavily on conclusions based on comparison between species, a technique successfully used by ,others (eg Snow 1955, Mason 1976. Readers are cautioned against comparing the results presented here with those from other analyses without checking whether they were derived in the same manner.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Some breeding statistics of Reed and Sedge Warblers

Bibby

1978

Bird Study

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Reed and Sedge Warblers have recently been the subjects of much cooperative investigation. Based on the B.T.O. nest record cards, this paper contributes to the enquiry by contrasting the two species and pointing to areas requiring further study.THE REED AND SEDGE WARBLERS Acrocephalus scirpaceus and A. schoenobaenus are a pair of superficially similar birds which breed in marshes. Comparison of the two poses several questions on their ecological isolation (Lack 1971). Detailed studies have revealed differences in their habitat preferences and feeding behaviour (Catchpole 1972(Catchpole , 1973Green and Davies 1972). Reed Warblers tend to nest in reed Phragmites australis, though similarly structured tall vegetation is commonly used as a substitute. They feed in reeds but also in trees, and employ active techniques to catch mobile prey, especially Diptera (Davies and Green 1976). Sedge Warblers more commonly nest in lower, denser vegetation; they feed in the field layer especially near water, picking small relatively immobile prey items.The Reed Warbler's breeding biology was studied with intensive field effort by Brown and Davies (1949); and, more recently, Catchpole (1974) studied this species with emphasis on differences between habitats. By using British Trust for Ornithology nest record cards, this analysis aims to present a statement on the existing state of knowledge and draw attention to areas that would profit from further investigation. Of particular interest is the question of how the differences of habitat and foods influence the breeding biology of the two species. METHODSThe major source material was the BTO collection of nest record cards up to the end of 1976, which amounted to about 4,000 and 2,000 for Reed and Sedge Warblers respectively.The nature of the data recorded on nest record cards and the biases inherent in their analysis have been described previously (Newton 1964). This paper relies heavily on conclusions based on comparison between species, a technique successfully used by ,others (eg Snow 1955, Mason 1976. Readers are cautioned against comparing the results presented here with those from other analyses without checking whether they were derived in the same manner.The analysis most susceptible to bias is of the failure rates of nests, mainly because those found have succeeded until that time. This study uses a new method of investigating the problem, which has advantage in using more of the available information and permitting study of the seasonal variation of failure rates.Additional information was collected by a request published in Ringing and Migration. This provided data on the brood size and timing of birth of nestlings which were recaught in subsequent seasons. RESULTS Breeding seasonsBreeding seasons were defined on the basis of laying dates of first eggs from nests where there was sufficient information. Eggs were assumed to have been laid at daily intervals, and incubation to have started on the morning of laying of the last egg and to have lasted twelve days. This assum...

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“…Ringing recoveries (Zink 1973) show that Willow Warblers and Whitethroats migrating through Iberia are of the west European populations, whereas those migrating through the Aegean are of more easterly origins. Whitethroats breeding in Britain start laying mainly between 11-15 May (Mason 1976), some two weeks earlier than those in the Leningrad region of the U.S.S.R. (Dementiev and Gladkov 1954) where laying takes place between 10 May and 11 June (mode= 28 May); and it is assumed that west-east differences in laying dates will also be reflected in second broods. To take another example, British Willow Warblers lay mainly from the first week of May to the first week of June (Cramp 1955), compared to early or mid-June in north-west and central Russia (Dementiev and Gladkov 1954) and even later further north.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%