Category: Muscicapidae

Daylength determines departure date of the Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata from its winter quarters.

Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) Science Article 1 abstract The annual arrival and departure dates of the Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata at Bloemfontein in the Orange Free State, South Africa, were noted for a continuous period of 36 years (1950-1986). According to a stepwise regression analysis, daylength is by far the most important environmental factor influencing […]

Functional significance of nest size variation in the Rufous Bush Robin Cercotrichas galactotes.

Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin (Erythropygia galactotes) Science Article 1 abstract Avian nest building behaviour has generally been viewed as a result of natural selection, and several functional hypotheses have been suggested to explain variance in nest size. These include responses to predation and parasitism risk, and aspects of nest stability, clutch size, insulation and sexual display. […]

The influence of male age and phenology on reproductive success of the red-breasted flycatcher (Ficedula parva)

Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva) Science Article 1 abstract I studied arrival time, breeding phenology, and breeding success in relation to the age class (second year and older) of male red-breasted flycatchers for six breeding seasons (2000-2005) in the prim val Bialowieza Forest, eastern Poland. Older males, i.e. older than two years (ASY), arrived on average […]

First evidence of phenological change in a transcontinental migrant overwintering in the Indian sub-continent: the Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva

Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva) Science Article 3 abstract We analysed data on the Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva collected in old- growth, oak-hornbeam stands in the primeval Forest, Poland during 1973- 2002. In this period, the Red-breasted Flycatcher’s return to its breeding sites became sig nificantly earlier whilst population size did not change significantly. We show […]

Is the later arrival of young male red-breasted flycatchers ( Ficedula parva ) related to their physical condition?

Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva) Science Article 2 abstract Intraspecific variation in the arrival time of migratory birds to breeding grounds is common. Although this phenomenon has been explained in various ways, the condition-dependency of arrival is often evoked. I analyzed the arrival time of male red-breasted flycatchers Ficedula parva, a long-distance migratory passerine, in relation […]

Niche partitioning of two Palearctic passerinemigrants with Afrotropical residents in theirWest African winter quarters

Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) Science Article 5 abstract In bird migration systems, the question of coexistence and competition of migrants with residents in the nonbreeding season andtheir role in shaping the evolution of present avian communities is much debated. However, conclusions are often drawn ina speculative way. In the Palearctic-African bird migration system, many studies […]

Niche partitioning of two Palearctic passerinemigrants with Afrotropical residents in theirWest African winter quarters

Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) Science Article 5 abstract In bird migration systems, the question of coexistence and competition of migrants with residents in the nonbreeding season andtheir role in shaping the evolution of present avian communities is much debated. However, conclusions are often drawn ina speculative way. In the Palearctic-African bird migration system, many studies […]

Do parasitic mites decrease growth of nestling Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca?

Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) Science Article 10 abstract The effect of a parasitic mite Dermanyssus hirundinis on the growth and survival of nestling Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca was tested by an experiment where the parasite level was reduced in half of the nest boxes using an insecticide, Although the abundance of mites was significantly reduced […]

Do parasitic mites decrease growth of nestling Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca?

Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) Science Article 10 abstract The effect of a parasitic mite Dermanyssus hirundinis on the growth and survival of nestling Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca was tested by an experiment where the parasite level was reduced in half of the nest boxes using an insecticide, Although the abundance of mites was significantly reduced […]

The quality of pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) and great tit (Parus major) females in an air pollution gradient

Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) Science Article 1 abstract We studied whether pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) and great tit (Parus major) females differed in quality between polluted and unpolluted habitats. Comparing female condition between incubation and nestling periods, we aimed at testing whether biometric differences in F. hypoleuca females were caused by assortative settlement (i.e. intraspecific […]