Do New Holland Honeyeaters<i>Phylidonyris Novaehollandiae</i>Breed Regularly in Spring and Autumn?

Paton, David C.

doi:10.1071/mu9850130

Cited by 20 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Other researchers have observed territoriality not only in breeding males (Paton 1979(Paton , 1985bMcFarland 1986d) but also in males, females, and juveniles outside breeding periods (Paton 1979(Paton , 1985aMcFarland 1986a). I found that adult males could be found at their territories for small amounts of time outside the breeding period, but there were so few other birds present during these summer months that there was little potential for aggression.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aggressiveness of breeding territorial honeyeaters corresponds to seasonal changes in nectar availability

Armstrong

1991

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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On the east coast of Australia, new holland and white-cheeked honeyeaters experience huge seasonal changes in nectar availability over their breeding periods. I observed breeding males of both species to determine whether levels of territorial aggressiveness varied with these changes in nectar availability. I watched individual males repeatedly and assessed their aggressiveness by recording their responses to birds that came within 30 m of them. Almost all attacks were on unfamiliar birds; males never attacked their mates or offspring and rarely attacked other birds that were resident in the area. Intruders were most likely to be attacked if they were conspecifics, if they landed rather than flying by, and if they came near the centers of males' territories. Taking into account the types, behaviors, and locations of intruders, there were pronounced seasonal changes in the probability of an intruder being attacked by a territorial male. Males were least aggressive when nectar was abundant, suggesting that territorial aggression could be at least partially a response to scarcity of nectar. Seasonal changes in aggressiveness were not accounted for by breeding cycles or by changes in frequency of intrusions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aggressiveness of breeding territorial honeyeaters corresponds to seasonal changes in nectar availability

Armstrong

1991

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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“…The sexes exhibit no marked dichromatism or dimorphism, although males tend to be slightly larger on average (Rooke 1976). The bird is socially monogamous during the spring and autumnal breeding periods, with only the female incubating the eggs but both parents feeding the young (Paton 1985). It is mostly nectarivorous but will frequently supplement its carbohydrate requirements with manna, honey dew, and lerp, and its protein requirements with insects (Paton 1979(Paton , 1982.…”

Section: Study Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Divergence in New Holland Honeyeaters (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae): evidence from morphology and feeding behavior

2009

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Studies of island versus mainland populations have provided insights into processes that shape adaptive divergence (e.g., through selection in allopatric populations) as well as patterns of morphological change. In this study, we compare the morphology and foraging behavior in New Holland Honeyeaters (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae) between Kangaroo Island and the South Australian mainland. We (1) provide descriptive information on morphology traits across populations to test previously described differences; (2) test the prediction that island birds will have a wider foraging niche, different use of foraging substrate, and different foraging techniques, and (3) test for evidence of reduced prey diversity on islands as evidenced by longer foraging time. The results provide support for the predictions. Island birds were larger than the mainland birds in tarsus (2.5%) and bill length (3.7%), had a wider foraging niche (mostly due to greater insect consumption), and foraged more from the bark and air (sallying). Consistent with other studies of island biogeography, at least one common mainland predator and several bird species are absent from Kangaroo Island, which may facilitate niche expansion in the island birds. A wider niche could also be favored by lower prey diversity on islands (a depauperate community): in this study, island birds had longer foraging times than mainland birds, which may be evidence for lower total prey density.

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“…Sunbirds, honeyeaters and honeycreepers, however, usually breed as pairs, or in some cases as small groups, with the workload shared by males and females (e.g. Broekhuysen 1963;Skead 1963;Recher 1977;Dow 1978;Earle 1982;Kamil & van Riper 1982;van Riper 1984;Paton 1985b;McFarland 1986c).…”

Section: Influence Of Body Size On Reproductive Ecologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Consequences of differences in body mass, wing length and leg morphology for nectar‐feeding birds

Collins

Paton

1989

Australian Journal of Ecology

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Nectar-feeding birds are prominent in many parts ofthe world, and vary with respect to body size. Despite the availability of considerable morphometric data, few concerted efforts have been made to assess the influence of attributes such as mass, wing length and leg morphology upon the speed, acceleration, mode and energetic cost of movement by birds between flowers when foraging for nectar. This review attempts to consolidate and interpret available data and highlight areas where further investigations appear warranted. Australian honeyeaters are generally larger, and American hummingbirds smaller, than Hawaiian honeycreepers and sunbirds of Africa or Asia. Sunbirds, honeyeaters and honeycreepers generally perch while extracting nectar from flowers. Hummingbirds usually hover, apparently because suitable perches close to flowers are lacking, and not because hovering increases the speed at which flowers can be visited. Honeyeaters move from one flower to another at speeds that are at least as great as those for hummingbirds. Most passerine nectarivores need to ingest more nectar per day than hummingbirds in order to maintain energy balance, some species devoting more than 60% ofthe day to foraging. The major consequence of reduced foraging activity by hummingbirds, which spend only 5-30% ofthe day in this manner, appears to be male emancipation from nest construction and care of offspring. Large nectarivores have a greater capacity to store surplus food and to fast than smaller birds, and so can take advantage of short-lived peaks in nectar abundance. Nectarivores such as honeyeaters should therefore be favoured by the rapid diurnal changes in nectar availability which are characteristic of many Australian and African habitats. Body mass also determines the likely access to rich sources of nectar through size-related interspecific dominance hierarchies. In all families, larger species tend to monopolize the most rewarding nectar supplies, forcing smaller subordinate species to use poorer, more scattered sources. Within particular species, males usually have longer wings and greater masses than females. These variations imply that the two sexes differ with regard to their foraging ecology, although few supporting data are currently available.

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Do New Holland HoneyeatersPhylidonyris NovaehollandiaeBreed Regularly in Spring and Autumn?

Cited by 20 publications

References 8 publications

Aggressiveness of breeding territorial honeyeaters corresponds to seasonal changes in nectar availability

Aggressiveness of breeding territorial honeyeaters corresponds to seasonal changes in nectar availability

Divergence in New Holland Honeyeaters (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae): evidence from morphology and feeding behavior

Consequences of differences in body mass, wing length and leg morphology for nectar‐feeding birds

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