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Observations on Nesting Noisy Pittas Pitta Versicolor

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Observations on Nesting Noisy Pittas Pitta Versicolor VOL. 16 (1) MARCH 1995 Nesting Noisy Pittas 39 Adult male Noisy Pitta feeding nestlings at The Leap, Mackay, Queensland, during the nestling period December 1993/January 1994 Plate 12 Photo: Peter Taylor Observations on Nesting Noisy Pittas Pitta versicolor Little is known of the breeding behaviour of Australian pittas. Both sexes of the Noisy Pitta Pitta versicolor share incubation, which lasts 15 days; some aspects of display of the Noisy Pitta and Red-bellied Pitta P. erythrogaster have been described (Schodde & Tidemann 1986, Beruldsen 1990, Hobcroft 1992, Beruldsen & Uhlenhut 1995). Brief details of breeding behaviour in New Guinean pittas have also been obtained. Both sexes of the Red-bellied Pitta incubate/brood, and parental behaviour of the Hooded Pitta P. sordida has been described, in which the nestling period lasts c. 16 days (Coates 1990). This account describes the courtship, nesting, incubation and parental behaviour of a pair of Noisy Pittas during the period 22 November 1993 to 10 January 1994 at The Leap, Mackay, Queensland. The location and habitat were as previously described (Taylor 1994). The pair of Noisy Pittas built a nest in a bank wash-out of a dry, rocky creek, utilising a treated pine log on one side of the nest and the bank rock-face at the rear of the nest. The pine log supports an observation deck c. 10m from our house. Although they were very secretive, the birds accepted our presence and showed no fear of us. We made daily observations of the birds at their nest. We could not see into the nest clearly, but we did not attempt to inspect the interior closely for fear of causing desertion. During the early observations, we noted only two features that enabled us to separate the male from the female. The male had red undertail coverts, whereas the female's AUSTRALIAN 40 TAYLOR & TAYLOR BIRD WATCHER were more pink. The male's call was strong and assertive, whereas the female's was of a higher pitch and more hurried. Later, when they started feeding young, each parent used its own distinct flight path and observation perch before arrival at the nest. Before nesting, both birds were seen constantly in the immediate area of the nest site. During the day they searched for food on the forest floor, and in the evening roosted high in the trees. Once the nest was completed, the birds foraged much farther up the creek and were rarely seen foraging in the immediate area of the nest site. Courtship and mating During September 1993, the male Noisy Pitta became very vocal. Sometimes commencing as early as 0300 h, his calls continued throughout the day and evening. Finally a female answered. In the days following, both birds were seen together foraging and responding to each other's calls. Courting began in earnest with the female picking up a piece of debris from the forest floor and running along the ground with it. The male ran after her, she stopped and mating followed. Mating was witnessed twice, and on each occasion took place on the ground. The male emitted one short, single-note call immediately before mating, the only time that this call was heard. Nest and incubation The nest site was located on 22 November 1993 when the nest was almost complete. Both sexes shared in the construction. The nest was made of twigs, leaves, small roots, grasses and moss and seemed to have an area of 'matting' in front of the entrance. It was dome-shaped, the floor area raised at the entrance and falling back to the egg chamber. On the morning of 9 December, the female flew to the nest with nesting material in the usual manner. However, she went into the nest and did not reappear until late afternoon. On inspection, only two eggs were seen but the interior of the nest was dark; it is possible that a third egg was present. On the following day, the female's behaviour was repeated and four eggs had now been laid. Both sexes incubated the eggs. During the change-over procedure, the incoming bird called some distance from the nest. The sitting bird immediately flew out, thus leaving the incoming bird uninterrupted access. Soft nesting material was brought to the nest at most change­ overs. The length of the incubation stints varied in duration. Nestling period On Tl December 1993 a change in behavioural routine was noted. For the first and only time, both birds were seen together at the nest, the male feeding the female. Two eggs had hatched. Owing to the position of the nest and our reluctance to interfere at this crucial stage, it is not known whether all four eggs hatched but a maximum of two chicks was seen. Both parents fed the nestlings. A wide variety of food was collected, increasing in size as the chicks grew. Centipedes, grasshoppers, flies, ants, snails, caterpillars and earthworms were brought. In the afternoon of 10 January a change in parental feeding pattern was noted. The parents frequented the nest far less than previ9usly, aod did not pringas much food on each visit. The chicks were very vocal on the parents' arrival. This behaviour may have indicated that the chicks were about to leave the nest. The nestlings did not survive to fledging. A snake was seen eating one of the young at 2000 h on the evening of 10 January 1994. The other chick was dead in the nest. VOL. 16 (1) MARCH 1995 Nesting Noisy Pittas 41 The chicks were fully feathered and appeared to be the same size as the parents, with the pitta colours already apparent. Conclusion The incubation period lasted 17 days from the completion of the clutch, and the nestling period lasted 14 days to the point where fledging was imminent. These values, and the birds' parental behaviour and routines, are as previously reported for the Noisy Pitta or similar to these aspects of the nesting biology of other pittas (cf. Schodde . & Tidemann 1986, Coates 1990, Hobcroft 1992). References Beruldsen, G.R. (1990), 'Cape York in the Wet', Aust. Bird Watcher 13, 209-217. -- & Uhlenhut, K. (1995), 'Cape York in the Wet (Part Two)', Aust. Bird Watcher 16, 3-10. Coates, B.J. (1990), The Birds of Papua New Guinea, vol. 2, Dove, Brisbane. Hobcroft, D. (1992), 'The husbandry of the Noisy Pitta', Aust. A vi culture 46, 77-79. Schodde, R. & Tidemann, S.C. (Eds) (1986), Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds, 2nd edn, Reader's Digest Services, Sydney. Taylor, P. (1994), 'Observations on nesting White-browed Robins Poecilodryas superciliosa', Aust. Bird Watcher 15, 328-331. By PAT TAYLOR and PETER TAYLOR, 38 Sunrise Road, Tinbeerwah via Coo roy, Queensland 4563 Received 8 March 1994 • .
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