Territory and Mate Fidelity in a Migratory Population of the Rufous Whistler <i>Pachycephala rufiventris</i>

Bridges, Lynda

doi:10.1071/mu9940156

Cited by 15 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 26 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…However, we note the high return rate for the Rufous Whistler, with several colorbanded males returning in consecutive years to defend territories at their initial capture sites. High interannual site fidelity has been previously observed in this species in temperate woodlands (Bridges 1994). Our findings are evidence that restoration plantings provide high-quality breeding habitat for Rufous Whistlers.…”

Section: Figsupporting

confidence: 80%

“…Annual survival estimates for the woodland assemblage (51%) and color‐banded birds (55%) were lower than expected. Other Australian studies have commonly reported survival estimates of above 60% for various woodland species in both intact landscapes (Yom‐Tov et al 1992, Bridges 1994, Dunn and Cockburn 1999, Green and Cockburn 1999, Gardner et al 2003, Robinson 2008) and fragmented agricultural landscapes (Noske 1991, Zanette 2001, Brooker and Brooker 2001). Survival estimates for the Superb Fairywren (55%) also were lower than those reported in some previous studies (Yom‐Tov et al 1992, Dunn and Cockburn 1999), but within the range reported by Baker et al (1997).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Ongoing declines of woodland birds: Are restoration plantings making a difference?

Belder

Pierson

Rudder

et al. 2021

Ecological Applications

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Woodland birds are a species assemblage of conservation concern, and their persistence in fragmented agricultural landscapes is dependent on both the preservation of existing woodland remnants and the implementation of restoration plantings. However, little is known about the habitat-use and persistence of birds in fragmented agricultural landscapes. We present a detailed, population-oriented study of woodland birds in temperate eucalypt woodland restoration plantings and remnant woodland patches in the Southwest Slopes bioregion of New South Wales, Australia. First, we undertook a 3-yr mark-recapture project to assess annual survival and site fidelity in restoration plantings and woodland remnants. We supplemented our recapture efforts with resightings of color-banded individuals. Second, we tracked individual birds of two species, Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) and Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), and documented snapshots of their home ranges and movement patterns during the breeding season. Annual survival in the woodland bird assemblage was lower than expected (51%). Home ranges of the Superb Fairywren were positively correlated with patch size, and were constrained by patch edges in linear sites. Superb Fairywrens and Willie Wagtails were more likely to travel longer distances between substrates while foraging in linear sites. Willie Wagtails engaged in significant gap-crossing (up to 400 m) between adjacent habitat patches. Our findings indicate that (1) patch isolation and certain patch configurations place resident birds at an energetic disadvantage, and (2) in our study area, woodland bird populations are continuing to decline. We recommend landscape-scale habitat restoration programs aim to address ongoing population declines. Studies such as ours conducted over longer time periods would provide a deeper understanding of habitat use and population processes of woodland birds in fragmented agricultural landscapes.

show abstract

Section: Figsupporting

confidence: 80%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ongoing declines of woodland birds: Are restoration plantings making a difference?

Belder

Pierson

Rudder

et al. 2021

Ecological Applications

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This strategy also allows males to improve their chances of paternity if females arrive and breed earlier than normal. In this study, male whistlers generally arrived before females, a habit typical of migratory species and other rufous whistler populations (Jarvi et al 1987;Bridges 1994). Although the ovaries of some females had developed a follicular hierarchy on arrival, there was a period of six weeks between arrival and the onset of nesting (M c Donald 2001).…”

Section: Gonadal Cycles Of Adult Male Whistlersmentioning

confidence: 85%

Gonadal and hormonal phenology in free-living male rufous whistlers, Pachycephala rufiventris (Passeriformes : Pachycephalidae)

McDonald¹,

Astheimer

Buttemer³

2001

Aust. J. Zool.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The hormonal and gonadal profiles of the few Australian old endemic passerine species studied to date have exhibited less annual variation in gonad size, reduced amplitude in testosterone (T) and luteinising hormone (LH) levels in comparison with those exhibited by many predominantly migratory species from the north temperate zone. Because none of the Australian endemics studied to date were migratory species, we studied a migratory population of rufous whistlers in central western New South Wales to determine whether differences in life history might be associated with different gonadal and hormonal profiles. Breeding stages were classified into five functional categories: territory/pair establishment, nest building, incubation, feeding nestlings/fledglings and post-breeding. We captured adult males at all breeding stages, examined their gonadal status through unilateral laparotomy, collected a blood sample and assessed this for plasma T and LH content using radioimmunoassay. Both hormones peaked early in the breeding season: LH levels during territory/pair establishment at 2.8 ng/mL 1.7 (s.d.) and T levels during nest building at 1.8 ng/mL 1.6 (s.d.). Following incubation LH and T (in particular) levels decreased substantially with the onset of parental duties – whilst feeding nestlings/fledglings T was 0.1 ng/mL 0.1 (s.d.), and LH was 1.6 ng/mL 1.2 (s.d.). This temporal variation in hormone secretion and an observed synchronous peak in gonad size at nest-building is reminiscent of migratory species from the north temperate zone displaying biparental care. Peak concentrations of both plasma T and LH in whistlers were intermediate between those reported for passerines from the north temperate zone with a similar life history and sedentary Australian old endemic passerines examined to date. This possibly reflects differences in life-history traits, the functional use of T in this species and/or possible phyletic effects.

show abstract

“…Weatherhead & Boak 1986; Nagata 1993; Part 1995; Plissner & Gowaty 1996), while the young typically are rarely recovered at the fledging sites (e.g. Weatherhead & Boak 1986; Morton et al 1991 ; Noske 1991; Bridges 1994; Todte 1994; Part 1995). Even apparently strict adult philopatry need not necessarily produce sharp genetic differences ( Austin et al 1994 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Little is known about adult or natal fidelity in these snatching species. Bridges (1994) reported that territorial fidelity of adult Rufous Whistlers was high (82–96%) at an isolated forest block in northern New South Wales. However, few fledged birds returned (18%).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coexistence of a locally undifferentiated foraging guild: avian snatchers in a southeastern Australian forest

MacNally

2000

Austral Ecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Three species of sexually dichromatic, insectivorous birds (Golden Whistler, Pachycephala pectoralis; Rufous Whistler, Pa. rufiventris; Rose Robin, Petroica rosea) employ a characteristic foraging manoeuvre (snatching or sally-striking) disproportionately often, leading several studies to group them together in one foraging guild. The three species synchronously co-occupy an extensive eucalypt forest east of Melbourne, Australia (Olinda State Forest). All assemble in relatively high densities in late winter and through spring and early summer to breed. Log-linear modelling of use of foraging techniques, substrate, plant species and heights within the forest indicate that all six species-gender groups virtually do not differ from one another: a situation in which very similar species coexist at high densities. The results are considered in the context of interspecific competition among ecologically similar species and it is suggested how such a situation might arise and be sustained. The absence of gender-specific differentiation within species is also addressed.

show abstract

Territory and Mate Fidelity in a Migratory Population of the Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventris

Cited by 15 publications

References 26 publications

Ongoing declines of woodland birds: Are restoration plantings making a difference?

Ongoing declines of woodland birds: Are restoration plantings making a difference?

Gonadal and hormonal phenology in free-living male rufous whistlers, Pachycephala rufiventris (Passeriformes : Pachycephalidae)

Coexistence of a locally undifferentiated foraging guild: avian snatchers in a southeastern Australian forest

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About