DOCSLIB.ORG

Notes on the Nesting and Breeding of Delichon Urbica

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Notes on the Nesting and Breeding of Delichon Urbica TurkJZool 31(2007)271-280 ©TÜB‹TAK NotesontheNestingandBreedingof Delichonurbica (Linnaeus,1758)(Aves:Passeriformes)nearKöprüköy (K›z›l›rmak,Turkey) FulyaSAYGILI1,NuriY‹⁄‹T2,* 1 Ni¤deUniversity,FacultyofScienceandEducation,BiologyDepartment,Ni¤de-TURKEY 2 AnkaraUniversity,FacultyofScience,BiologyDepartment06100Tando¤an,Ankara-TURKEY Received:17.04.2006 Abstract: Themigrationandsomebio-ecologicalcharacteristicsofahousemartin( Delichonurbica )population,whichhas establishedcoloniesunderbridgesovertheK›z›l›rmakRivernearKöprüköyvillage(K›r›kkale),wereinvestigatedin2003and2004. ThesehousemartinswereobservedfromthebeginningofApriltothefirstweekofSeptember,whentheymigratedsouth. Accordingtothespecimensexamined,meanmeasurementsoftotallength,wingspan,andweightwererecordedas133.5mm, 279.5mm,and15.5g,respectively.Meanmeasurementsandweightsofthenestswere12.5mmlong× 9mmwide× 6mmhigh, and425g.ThefirstclutchwasobservedinMay,thefirstoffspringappearedduringthefirstweekofJune,andlittersizeva ried from1to4.Themeanweightofeggswas1.6g;thetotalbodylengthandweightofahatchlingwere6mmand0.83g.Itwas alsofoundthatthehousemartinhadamaximumof2clutchesduringthebreedingseason. KeyWords: Migration,breeding,Delichonurbica,Turkey Köprüköy(K›z›l›rmak,Türkiye)Civar›ndakiDelichonurbica (Linnaeus,1758) (Aves:Passeriformes)’n›nYuvalanmaveÜremeBiyolojisiÜzerineNotlar Özet: K›z›l›rmak’›nKöprüköymevkiindebulunanköprülerinalt›nayuvalananevk›rlang›çlar›n›n(Delichonurbica)göçzaman›vebaz› biyo-ekolojiközellikleri2003ve2004y›llar›ndaincelendi.Bunagörekufllar›nçal›flman›nyap›ld›¤›alanaNisan›nilkhaftas›ndageldi¤i, Eylülünilkhaftas›ndaisegüneyegöçetti¤isaptand›.‹ncelenenörneklerdeortalamatümboyuzunlu¤u,kanataç›kl›¤›vea¤›rl› k s›ras›yla133,5mm,279,5mmve15,5grolarakbelirlendi.‹ncelenenyuvalar›nortalamaboyutlar›vea¤›rl›¤›;boy:12,5mm,en : 9mm,yükseklik:6mmvea¤›rl›k:425grolarakbelirlendi.Üremebiyolojisininbelirlenmesineyönelikçal›flmalardakuluçkayaMay›s ay›ndayatt›klar›ilkyavrular›nyuvalardaHaziran›nilkhaftas›içerisindegörülmeyebaflland›¤›veyuvalardakiyavrusay›s›n›n 1-4 aras›ndade¤iflti¤i,incelenenyuvalardabulunanyumurtalar›nortalamaa¤›rl›¤›n›n1,6grolup,yumurtadanyeniç›km›flbirbirey in6 mmboyundave0,83gra¤›rl›¤›ndaoldu¤ubelirlendi.Çal›fl›lanistasyondabutürüremesezonundaenfazla2kezkuluçkaya yatmaktad›r. AnahtarSözcükler: Göç,biyoloji,ekoloji,Delichonurbica,Türkiye Introduction Steiner,1970;Barıfletal.,1984;DijksenandKasparek, Thehousemartin, Delichonurbica (Linnaeus,1758), 1985;Kiziro¤lu,1989;Kasparek,1992;Heinzeletal., isgenerallydistributedinEurope,Cyprus,Israel,and 1995;SnowandPerrins,1998;RhodesandPiper, Turkey,inthePalearcticRegion.Itisdistributedwidely 2001).SnowandPerrins(1998)suggestedthatthere acrosscentralandnorthernAsia,southernIran,the were100,000-1,000,000breedingpairsinTurkey Himalayas,andsouthernChina.Itbreedssporadicallyin duringthebreedingseason. northwestAfricaandNamibia.Accordingtostudies,the Housemartinsaremigratorybirdsthataresummer numberofindividualsinapopulationofhousemartinsis visitorsinthePalearcticRegion,thoughtheyhavebeen notstableandcontinuouslychanges(Kumerloeve,1964; reportedduringthewinterintheMediterraneanbasin, *E-mail:[email protected] 271 NotesontheNestingandBreedingof Delichonurbica (Linnaeus,1758)(Aves:Passeriformes)nearKöprüköy(K›z›l›rmak,Turkey) WesternEurope,andthenorthofBritainandIreland. inearlymorningandendedatsunset,weremadeusinga WestPalearcticandwestAsianbirdswinterinthe fieldscope,binoculars,andvideocamera.Wecaptureda Afrotropics(SnowandPerrins,1998).Duetoahighly totalof20specimens,consistingof10adults,3juveniles, aeriallifestyle,withhigh-altitudeforaging,theylive 4fledglings,2hatchlings,and1embryo.Some withintheAfrotropics,inthehumidzonenorthofthe measurementsofspecimensweretakenusingcalipers equator.Theymigratelateinautumnbecausethelast sensitiveto0.1mm.Theweightsofnestsandbirdswere broodsarestillinthenestinlateAugustorSeptember. alsorecorded.Thehousemartinsweredividedinto4age SoutherlymovementthroughEuropeoccursin groups(Figure3a-e),andmorphologicalandbiometrical September-October,butrarelyinNovember.Thereturn characteristicswereexamined.Inadditiontothis,relative tobreedingcoloniesinnorthwestAfricaandsouthern fledglingmass(massatfledgling/adultbodymass)was IberiaoccursinJanuary,progressivelylaterfurther calculatedaccordingtoRemesandMartin(2002). north,andovermostofEuropeinthesecondhalfofApril Measurementstakenfrombirds andthefirsthalfofMay(SnowandPerrins,1998). Totalbodylength(TBL):Distancebetweenthetipsof Thebio-ecologicalcharacteristicsofthehousemartin thebeakandtail; havebeenstudiedbyBryant(1975,1979),Bryantand Westerterp(1983),andMøller(1984);however,there Wingspan(WS):Distancebetweenthetipsofboth areonlyafewobservationalrecordsofthehousemartin wings; populationinTurkey(Beamanetal.,1975;Kayaetal., Winglength(WL):Distancebetweentheshoulder 1999;Gündo¤du,2002;AslanandKiziro¤lu,2003;Kılıç girdleandthelongestprimaryfeather; andEken,2004).Thecurrentstudyaimedtoexamine Taillength(TL):Distancebetweentheposterior themigration,nestbuilding,andbreedingbiologyofthe marginofthecloakandthetipoftail; housemartin,aswellassupportconservationactivities forthisspecies,whichislistedinAppendix-2oftheBern Headwidth(HW):Distancebetweenthewidestpoints ConventionandevaluatedasVU(Vulnerable)intheRed ofthehead; BookofTurkishBirdsinIUCN(2001). Beaklength(BL):Distancebetweentheanterior marginofforeheadfeathersandthetipofthebeak; MaterialsandMethods Humeruslength(HL):Distancebetweentheshoulder girdleandtheposteriortipoftheulna; Thestudyincludedhousemartinsthathadestablished acolonyunder2bridgesnearKöprüköyvillage(lat Tarsometatarsuslength(TaL):Distancebetweenthe 39°34'37.44"N,long33°25'44.83"E)between2003 digitsandthetibiatarsus; and2004(KöprüköyvillageislocatedneartheKızılırmak Midtoelength(MT):Distancebetweenthejointofthe River,110kmsoutheastofAnkara).Thebridgesare tarsometatarsusandthetipofthemidtoe; paralleltoeachotherandapproximately250mapart. Weight(W). Housemartinsestablishedabreedingcolonyandbuilt nestsunderthesebridges(Figures1a,b,and2a,b).The habitataroundthebridgesischaracteristicAnatolian Results steppe,withasemi-aridcold-typeMediterraneanclimate. Externalcharacteristicsandnesting Climaticdata,suchastemperatureandhumidity,ofthe Accordingtoourexaminations,withrespectto nearesttown(Keskin)wereobtainedfromtheTurkish morphologicalandbiometricalcharacteristics,the StateMeteorologicalService. specimensdidnotshowsexualdimorphism.Anadult Thestudyareawasvisitedperiodicallyatweekly specimentypicallyhasashortneck,slenderandpointed intervalsinordertodeterminethemigrationdatesduring wings,aforkedtail,glossyblue-blackdorsalparts,and thestudyperiod.Thenestswerealsoperiodically purewhiteventralparts.Therumpiswhite,tailfeathers observedandcloselyinvestigatedtocollectreproduction areblack,andwhitefeatherscoveritslegsandtoes biologydata.Someindividualswerecapturedbymist- (Figure3e).Inadults,meanTBLis133.5mm,WSis netsandbutterflynets.Theobservations,whichstarted 279.53mm,WLis126.6mm,andWis15.50g(Table). 272 F.SAYGILI,N.Y‹⁄‹T a b Figure1.Twobridgeswereusedbyhousemartinsfornestinginthestudyarea.a)Oldbridge,b)new bridge. 273 NotesontheNestingandBreedingof Delichonurbica (Linnaeus,1758)(Aves:Passeriformes)nearKöprüköy(K›z›l›rmak,Turkey) a b Figure2.Nestdistributionunderthebridges.a)Oldbridge,b)newbridge. 274 F.SAYGILI,N.Y‹⁄‹T ab c d e Figure3.Agegroupsofthehousemartins;a)anegganditsembryo,b)hatchlings,c)fledglings,d)asub-adult,e)anadult. 275 NotesontheNestingandBreedingof Delichonurbica (Linnaeus,1758)(Aves:Passeriformes)nearKöprüköy(K›z›l›rmak,Turkey) Table.Externalmeasurements(mm)andweights(W,g)ofadulthousemartinsspecimens. Measurements Specimens TBLWSWLTLHWBL HLTaLMTW 1 134 274 125 57 14 6.9 16 10.3 9 14.28 2 136 277.4 125 60 15 6.9 15.5 10.4 10 15.28 3 135 281 125.8 60 14.5 5 16.7 10.3 12 15.47 4 145 282 128 62 14.2 6.5 16.2 11.2 11.2 16.45 5 136 277.5 125 59 14.5 6.4 17.6 10.2 10.3 16.63 6 125 278.4 125 58 14.1 6.9 16.2 9 9 16.20 7 124 269 122 51 14.5 6.7 17.2 10 12 13.77 8 139 287 130 62 14.6 6.5 17.5 11.2 11 15.11 9 129 284 130 56 14.8 6.6 16.3 11.6 12.4 15.82 10 132 285 130 55 14.5 6.0 16.5 11.5 11.7 16.02 Means 133.5 279.53 126.58 58 14.47 6.44 16.57 10.57 10.86 15.50 Standard ±6.35 ±5.43 ±2.76 ±3.40 ±0.31 ±0.58 ±0.68 ±0.80 ±1.24 ±0.93 Deviations Wedeterminedthatthejuvenilesweredifferentfrom nestswere12.5cmlong × 9cmwide × 5.6cmhigh, adultsintheirbiometriccharacteristics,havingapale weighing425g.Thethicknessofthenestwallsranged colorandwhiteflecksontheirwings(Figure3d).The from0.45to1.90cm.Itwasalsodeterminedthatsome morphologicalcharacteristicsofotheragegroups,such ofthenestsunderthebridgeswereusedbyhouse asfledglingsandhatchlings,areshowninFigure3a-c. sparrows( Passerdomesticus )andEuropeanstarlings Theneststhatwerebuiltunderthe2bridgesshowed (Sturnusvulgaris). specificspatialdistributionsinaccordancewiththeshape Migrationperiodanddailyactivity ofthebridges.Thenestswerebuiltasaclusterof12-16 HousemartinswerefirstobservedaroundKöprüköy undertheoldbridge,butwereinalinearformation duringthefirstweekofApril(April2,2003andApril5, undertheedgesofthenewbridge.Underbothbridges 2004).Duringthisperiodthetemperatureandrelative somenestswerefoundtonotshareawallwithother humiditywere19°Cand49%,respectively.Thefirst nests.Wecounted160nestsundertheoldbridgeand migrationsouthwasrecordedfromthenewbridgeatthe 200nestsunderthenewbridge.Itwasalsoobserved endofJuly,andthelastindividualsleftKöprüköythefirst thatthehousemartinsbuilttheirnestsbycarryingsmall weekofSeptember,whenthetemperaturewas22°C mudpelletsandothernestmaterialsintheirbeaks.They andtherelativehumiditywas63.7%
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Effects of Nestling Diet on Growth and Adult Size of Zebra Finches (Poephila Guttata )
    THE AUK A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY VOL. 104 APRIL 1987 NO. 2 EFFECTS OF NESTLING DIET ON GROWTH AND ADULT SIZE OF ZEBRA FINCHES (POEPHILA GUTTATA ) PETER T. BOAG Departmentof Biology,Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada Al•STRACT.--Manipulationof the diet of Zebra Finch (Poephilaguttata) nestlings in the laboratoryshowed that a low-quality diet reducedgrowth ratesof nine externalmorpholog- ical characters,while a high-quality diet increasedgrowth rates.The growth of plumage characterswas least affectedby diet, while growth ratesof tarsusand masswere most af- fected. The treatments also produced differencesin the adult size of experimental birds, differencesnot evident in either their parentsor their own offspring.Diet quality had the strongestimpact on adult massand tarsuslength, while plumage and beak measurements were less affected. Analysis using principal componentsand characterratios showed that the shapeof experimentalbirds was affectedby the experimentaldiets, but to a minor extent comparedwith changesin overall size. Significantshape changes involved ratiosbetween fast- and slow-growingcharacters. The ratios of charactersthat grow at similar, slow rates (e.g. beak shape) were not affected by the diets. Environmental sourcesof morphological variation should not be neglectedin studiesof phenotypicvariation in birds. Received5 June 1986, accepted30 October1986. MORPHOLOGICAL differences between indi- fitness, and weather was seen in the nonran- vidual birds are often assignedfunctional sig- dom survival of House Sparrows collected by nificance, whether those individuals are of dif- Hiram Bumpus following a winter storm ferent species,different sexes,or different-size (O'Donald 1973, Fleischer and Johnston 1982). members of the same sex (Hamilton 1961, Se- Recently, investigators have tried to dem- lander 1966,Clark 1979,James 1982).
    [Show full text]
  • Tree Swallows (Tachycineta Bicolor) Nesting on Wetlands Impacted by Oil Sands Mining Are Highly Parasitized by the Bird Blow Fly Protocalliphora Spp
    Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 43(2), 2007, pp. 167–178 # Wildlife Disease Association 2007 TREE SWALLOWS (TACHYCINETA BICOLOR) NESTING ON WETLANDS IMPACTED BY OIL SANDS MINING ARE HIGHLY PARASITIZED BY THE BIRD BLOW FLY PROTOCALLIPHORA SPP. Marie-Line Gentes,1 Terry L. Whitworth,2 Cheryl Waldner,3 Heather Fenton,1 and Judit E. Smits1,4 1 Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4, Canada 2 Whitworth Pest Solutions, Inc., 2533 Inter Avenue, Puyallup, Washington, USA 3 Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4, Canada 4 Corresponding author (email: [email protected]) ABSTRACT: Oil sands mining is steadily expanding in Alberta, Canada. Major companies are planning reclamation strategies for mine tailings, in which wetlands will be used for the bioremediation of water and sediments contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and naphthenic acids during the extraction process. A series of experimental wetlands were built on companies’ leases to assess the feasibility of this approach, and tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) were designated as upper trophic biological sentinels. From May to July 2004, prevalence and intensity of infestation with bird blow flies Protocalliphora spp. (Diptera: Calliphoridae) were measured in nests on oil sands reclaimed wetlands and compared with those on a reference site. Nestling growth and survival also were monitored. Prevalence of infestation was surprisingly high for a small cavity nester; 100% of the 38 nests examined were infested. Nests on wetlands containing oil sands waste materials harbored on average from 60% to 72% more blow fly larvae than those on the reference site.
    [Show full text]
  • Violet-Green Swallow
    Breeding Habitat Use Profile Habitats Used in Arizona Primary: Montane Riparian Secondary: Montane Forests, locally Upper Sonoran Desert Key Habitat Parameters Plant Composition Most montane forest types, often with some element of riparian, wetland, open water or 8 other moist habitat types Plant Density and Unknown Size Violet-green Swallow, photo by ©George Andrejko Microhabitat Snags, live trees, or cliffs for nesting, mesic Features areas with high insect productivity for forag- Conservation Profile ing 8; in wooded landscapes, often noted foraging and nesting near forest clearings Species Concerns and edges. Climate Change (Droughts) Increasing Fire Frequency Landscape Largely unknown, but must include some Timber Harvesting Practices old-growth forests or cliffs Conservation Status Lists Elevation Range in Arizona USFWS 1 No 3,200 – 10,500 feet, locally to 1,200 feet 9 AZGFD 2 No Density Estimate DoD 3 No Territory Size: Unknown BLM 4 No Density: Unknown, sometimes occurs in loose colonies 8 PIF Watch List 5b No PIF Regional Concern 5a No Migratory Bird Treaty Act Natural History Profile Covered Seasonal Distribution in Arizona PIF Breeding Population Size Estimates 6 Breeding April – early August, desert nesting may Arizona 710,000 ◑ begin in March 9 Global 7,200,000 ◑ Migration February – April; August – mid-October 9 9.93% Percent in Arizona Winter Rare, very small numbers 5b PIF Population Goal Nest and Nesting Habits Maintain 8 Type of Nest Cavity or crevice Trends in Arizona Nest Substrate Tree, rock, or cliff; also artificial
    [Show full text]
  • Aves: Hirundinidae)
    1 2 Received Date : 19-Jun-2016 3 Revised Date : 14-Oct-2016 4 Accepted Date : 19-Oct-2016 5 Article type : Original Research 6 7 8 Convergent evolution in social swallows (Aves: Hirundinidae) 9 Running Title: Social swallows are morphologically convergent 10 Authors: Allison E. Johnson1*, Jonathan S. Mitchell2, Mary Bomberger Brown3 11 Affiliations: 12 1Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago 13 2Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan 14 3 School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska 15 Contact: 16 Allison E. Johnson*, Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, 1101 E 57th Street, 17 Chicago, IL 60637, phone: 773-702-3070, email: [email protected] 18 Jonathan S. Mitchell, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, 19 Ruthven Museums Building, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, email: [email protected] 20 Mary Bomberger Brown, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Hardin Hall, 3310 21 Holdrege Street, Lincoln, NE 68583, phone: 402-472-8878, email: [email protected] 22 23 *Corresponding author. 24 Data archiving: Social and morphological data and R code utilized for data analysis have been 25 submitted as supplementary material associated with this manuscript. 26 27 Abstract: BehavioralAuthor Manuscript shifts can initiate morphological evolution by pushing lineages into new adaptive 28 zones. This has primarily been examined in ecological behaviors, such as foraging, but social behaviors 29 may also alter morphology. Swallows and martins (Hirundinidae) are aerial insectivores that exhibit a This is the author manuscript accepted for publication and has undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record.
    [Show full text]
  • Birds Along Lehi's Trail
    Journal of Book of Mormon Studies Volume 15 Number 2 Article 10 7-31-2006 Birds Along Lehi's Trail Stephen L. Carr Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jbms BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Carr, Stephen L. (2006) "Birds Along Lehi's Trail," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies: Vol. 15 : No. 2 , Article 10. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jbms/vol15/iss2/10 This Feature Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Book of Mormon Studies by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Title Birds Along Lehi’s Trail Author(s) Stephen L. Carr Reference Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 15/2 (2006): 84–93, 125–26. ISSN 1065-9366 (print), 2168-3158 (online) Abstract When Carr traveled to the Middle East, he observed the local birds. In this article, he suggests the possi- bility that the Book of Mormon prophet Lehi and his family relied on birds for food and for locating water. Carr discusses the various birds that Lehi’s family may have seen on their journey and the Mosaic law per- taining to those birds. Birds - ALOnG LEHI’S TRAIL stephen l. cARR 84 VOLUME 15, NUMBER 2, 2006 PHOTOGRAPHy By RICHARD wELLINGTOn he opportunity to observe The King James translators apparently ex- birds of the Middle East came to perienced difficulty in knowing exactly which me in September 2000 as a member Middle Eastern birds were meant in certain pas- Tof a small group of Latter-day Saints1 traveling in sages of the Hebrew Bible.
    [Show full text]
  • Population Dynamics and Migration Routes of Tree Swallows, Tachycineta Bicolor, in North America
    J. Field Ornithol., 59(4):395-402 POPULATION DYNAMICS AND MIGRATION ROUTES OF TREE SWALLOWS, TACHYCINETA BICOLOR, IN NORTH AMERICA ROBERT W. BUTLER Canadian Wildlife Service Box $dO Delta, British Columbia, VdK $Y$, Canada and EcologyGroup Departmentof Zoology Universityof British Columbia Vancouver, British Columbia V6T ?W5, Canada Abstract.--Band recoveriesand published accountsindicate that 79.1% of Tree Swallows (Tachycinetabicolor) die in their first year and 60.3% in eachsubsequent year. Tree Swallows live an averageof 2.7 yr. The net reproductiverate (R0) is 0.701 females/yr.At that rate a femalethat raisesan average-sizedbrood in eachbreeding year more than replacesherself in an averagelife span.However, a secondyear (SY) femalethat fails to breedmust raise an average-sizedbrood in each of the next three years to replace herself, but few females live that long. Tree Swallowsuse three migration routeseast of the Rockies:(1) eastcoast and Great Lake populationsmigrate along the easternseaboard to Florida, the Caribbean and Central America; (2) Canadian prairie and mid-west USA populationsfollow the Mississippidrainage basin to the Gulf Coast statesand Central America;(3) populations alongthe eastside of the Rockiesmigrate due southinto Mexico. Migration routesof western populationsare unknown,but a residentpopulation may exist in southernCalifornia. DINJ•MICA DE POBLACIONES Y RUTAS DE MIGRACI6N DE TACHYCINETA BICOLOR EN NORTE AMERICA Rcsumcn.--Tanto la litcratura como cl rccobrodc anillas indican quc cl 79.1% dc los individuosdc Tachycinetabicolor mucrcn durante cl primer afio y cl 60.3% cn aftossubsi- guicntcs.En promcdiocstas aves duran 2.7 aftos.La taza ncta rcproductivadc la cspccic (R0) cs dc 0.71 hcmbras/afio.A csta taza rcproductiva,una hcmbra quc cric una camada dc tamafio promcdiodurante susaftos dc vida, producirauna pcqucfiamayor cantidaddc individuosquc su rcmplazo.
    [Show full text]
  • The Evolution of Nest Construction in Swallows (Hirundinidae) Is Associated with the Decrease of Clutch Size
    © Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria; download unter www.biologiezentrum.at Linzer biol. Beitr. 38/1 711-716 21.7.2006 The evolution of nest construction in swallows (Hirundinidae) is associated with the decrease of clutch size P. HENEBERG A b s t r a c t : Variability of the nest construction in swallows (Hirundinidae) is more diverse than in other families of oscine birds. I compared the nest-building behaviour with pooled data of clutch size and overall hatching success for 20 species of swallows. The clutch size was significantly higher in temperate cavity-adopting swallow species than in species using other nesting modes including species breeding in evolutionarily advanced mud nests (P<0.05) except of the burrow-excavating Bank Swallow. Decrease of the clutch size during the evolution of nest construction is not compensated by the increase of the overall hatching success. K e y w o r d s : Hirundinidae, nest construction, clutch size, evolution Birds use distinct methods to avoid nest-predation: active nest defence, nest camouflage and concealment or sheltered nesting. While large and powerful species prefer active nest-defence, swallows and martins usually prefer construction of sheltered nests (LLOYD 2004). The nests of swallows vary from natural cavities in trees and rocks, to self-exca- vated burrows to mud retorts and cups attached to vertical faces. Much attention has been devoted to the importance of controlling for phylogeny in com- parative tests (HARVEY & PAGEL 1991), including molecular phylogenetic studies of swallows (WINKLER & SHELDON 1993). Interactions between the nest-construction va- riability and the clutch size, however, had been ignored.
    [Show full text]
  • Head-Scratching Method in Swallows Depends on Behavioral Context
    SHORT COMMUNICATIONS 679 shoulder-spot display during their observations of behavior in partridges. In all cases that I observed, the shoulder spot appeared to be a fear or flight intention display as described by Lumsden (1970). However, the display seemed secondary in importance compared to vocalizations and “tail flicking” during periods of extreme alarm. Examination of the shoul- der spot of a partridge confirmed the realignment of white underwing coverts to the top of the wing in the patagial region. The manipulation by the bird of underwing feathers appeared to be identical to that of Ruffed Grouse (Bonusa umbellus)(Garbutt 198 1). Since “display” implies actual communication between individuals further investigation is needed to de- termine if, in fact, the shoulder spot actually is serving a communication function in Gray Partridge. The shoulder spot in Gray Partridges and the display seen in grouse are morphologically similar. Lumsden (1970) concluded that the widespread occurrence of this display among grouse indicated it appeared relatively early in evolution. The morphological and behavioral similarities between the display in grouse and partridges suggest that the shoulder spot may have evolved even earlier. Since this is an escape behavior, and since many species of partridges and pheasants are difficult to observe in the wild, it may have been overlooked. Acknowledgments.-Theseobservations were made while the author was supported by funds from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department through Pittman-Robertson Project W-67-R. Additional support was provided by the Biology Department and Institute for Ecological Studies at the University of North Dakota. Helpful editorial comments were provided by R.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 ID Euring Latin Binomial English Name Phenology Galliformes
    BIRDS OF METAURO RIVER: A GREAT ORNITHOLOGICAL DIVERSITY IN A SMALL ITALIAN URBANIZING BIOTOPE, REQUIRING GREATER PROTECTION 1 SUPPORTING INFORMATION / APPENDICE Check list of the birds of Metauro river (mouth and lower course / Fano, PU), up to September 2020. Lista completa delle specie ornitiche del fiume Metauro (foce e basso corso /Fano, PU), aggiornata ad Settembre 2020. (*) In the study area 1 breeding attempt know in 1985, but in particolar conditions (Pandolfi & Giacchini, 1985; Poggiani & Dionisi, 1988a, 1988b, 2019). ID Euring Latin binomial English name Phenology GALLIFORMES Phasianidae 1 03700 Coturnix coturnix Common Quail Mr, B 2 03940 Phasianus colchicus Common Pheasant SB (R) ANSERIFORMES Anatidae 3 01690 Branta ruficollis The Red-breasted Goose A-1 (2012) 4 01610 Anser anser Greylag Goose Mi, Wi 5 01570 Anser fabalis Tundra/Taiga Bean Goose Mi, Wi 6 01590 Anser albifrons Greater White-fronted Goose A – 4 (1986, february and march 2012, 2017) 7 01520 Cygnus olor Mute Swan Mi 8 01540 Cygnus cygnus Whooper Swan A-1 (1984) 9 01730 Tadorna tadorna Common Shelduck Mr, Wi 10 01910 Spatula querquedula Garganey Mr (*) 11 01940 Spatula clypeata Northern Shoveler Mr, Wi 12 01820 Mareca strepera Gadwall Mr, Wi 13 01790 Mareca penelope Eurasian Wigeon Mr, Wi 14 01860 Anas platyrhynchos Mallard SB, Mr, W (R) 15 01890 Anas acuta Northern Pintail Mi, Wi 16 01840 Anas crecca Eurasian Teal Mr, W 17 01960 Netta rufina Red-crested Pochard A-4 (1977, 1994, 1996, 1997) 18 01980 Aythya ferina Common Pochard Mr, W 19 02020 Aythya nyroca Ferruginous
    [Show full text]
  • ILLINOIS BIRDS: Hirundinidae
    LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN Y\o. GG - €)3 SURVEY ILLINOIS BIRDS: Hirundinidae RICHARD R. GRABER J^' JEAN W. GRABER ETHELYN L. KIRK ^^^ Biological Notes No. 80 ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY Urbana, Illinois — August, 1972 State of Illinois Department of Registration and Education NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY DIVISION 1969 -1967 Fig. 1.—Routes travelled in summer (1957-1970) to study breed- ing distribution of the birds of Illinois. The encircled areas were spe- cial study areas where daily censuses of migrants and nesting popula- tions of birds were carried out, 1967-1970. , ILLINOIS BIRDS: Hirundinidae Richard R. Graber, Jean W. Graber, and Ethelyn L. Kirk THIS REPORT, the third in a series of pa- particularly interesting group for distribution studies, pers on the birds of Illinois, deals with the and to determine their population trends we should swallows. The introductions to the first two papers, know the location of every major colony or popula- on the mimids and thrushes (Graber et al. 1970, tion in the state. We therefore appeal to all students 1971) also serve as a general introduction to the of Illinois birds to examine the maps showing breed- series, and the procedures and policies outlined in ing distributions, and publish any additional infor- those papers also apply to this one. mation they may have. By this procedure we will One point that warrants emphasis and clarifica- ultimately learn the true distribution of all the Illi- tion is the geographic scope of the papers. Unless nois species. otherwise indicated, the data presented and the In bringing together the available information statements made refer to the state of Illinois (Fig.
    [Show full text]
  • TREE SWALLOW Tachycineta Bicolor Tree Swallows Are the Only Swallows to Be Seen All Year in the Sacramento Region
    TREE SWALLOW Tachycineta bicolor Tree swallows are the only swallows to be seen all year in the Sacramento region. A few winter here; others come to join them early in the spring. They are about sparrow-length but slimmer. The male is steel blue on top, white underneath. Tree swallows like wooded areas near streams. They can be seen skimming close to the water scooping up insects. Usually a hole in a tree trunk is chosen for a nest and lined with grass, leaves and feathers. The violet green swallow, a bird with similar colors but with white around the sides of the rump, is found here in warm weather. CLIFF SWALLOW Petrochelidon pyrrhonota Cliff swallows, famous for their annual return to San Juan Capistrano, likewise return to the Sacramento region within a few days of the same date each year. Wherever a bridge or culvert houses a colony of these swallows, the same kind of homecoming takes place each spring. Cliff swallows are identified by their buff foreheads, orange rumps, and square tails. They fly with long sweeping glides and steep climbs, catching flying insects on the wing. The bulb-shaped nests, hung under bridges, highway overpasses and eaves of buildings, are built entirely of mud. Flocks of cliff swallows can be seen around puddles gathering mud in their bills. When disturbed by an intruder or when flying over feeding grounds, the birds utter a squeaky, guttural sound. BARN SWALLOW Hirundo rustica Here is a bird with a real “swallow tail” outfit. In fact, it is our only swallow with a deeply forked tail.
    [Show full text]
  • Birds Checklist STEPPE BIRDS of CALATRAVA
    www.naturaindomita.com BIRDS CHECKLIST C = Common R = Resident. All year round. Steppe Birds of Calatrava LC = Less Common S = Spring & Summer. Usually breeding. Calatrava Steppes and Guadiana Steppes R = Rare or Scarce W = Autumn & Winter M = Only on migration Familia Nombre Científico Inglés Español Frequency Season 1 Podicipedidae Podiceps nigricollis Black-Necked Grebe Zampullín Cuellinegro 2 Podicipedidae Tachybaptus ruficollis Little Grebe Zampullín Común 3 Podicipedidae Podiceps cristatus Great Crested Grebe Somormujo Lavanco 4 Phalacrocoracidae Phalacrocorax carbo Great Cormorant Cormorán Grande 5 Ardeidae Botaurus stellaris Great Bittern Avetoro 6 Ardeidae Ixobrychus minutus Little Bittern Avetorillo Común R S 7 Ardeidae Nycticorax nycticorax Black-Crowned Night Heron Martinete Común LC S 8 Ardeidae Bubulcus ibis Cattle Egret Garcilla Bueyera CR 9 Ardeidae Ardeola ralloides Squacco Heron Garcilla Cangrejera RS 10 Ardeidae Egretta garzetta Little Egret Garceta Común CR 11 Ardeidae Egretta alba Great Egret Garceta Grande LC R 12 Ardeidae Ardea cinerea Grey Heron Garza Real LC R 13 Ardeidae Ardea purpurea Purple Heron Garza Imperial RS 14 Ciconiidae Ciconia ciconia White Stork Cigüeña Blanca CR 15 Ciconiidae Ciconia nigra Black Stork Cigüeña Negra 16 Threskiornithidae Plegadis falcinellus Glossy Ibis Morito Común LC S 17 Threskiornithidae Platalea leucorodia Eurasian Spoonbill Espátula Común LC S 18 Phoenicopteridae Phoenicopterus ruber Greater Flamingo Flamenco Común 19 Anatidae Anser albifrons Greater White-Fronted Goose Ánsar
    [Show full text]