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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 104(4)

Breeding biology, adult survival and territoriality of the White-browed Treecreeper (Climacteris affinis) in north-west Victoria, Australia

James Q. Radford
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

Landscape Ecology Research Group, School of Ecology and Environment, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Vic. 3125, Australia. Email: jradford@deakin.edu.au

Emu 104(4) 305-316 https://doi.org/10.1071/MU04002
Submitted: 14 January 2004  Accepted: 22 June 2004   Published: 16 December 2004

Abstract

This is the first study to present empirical data describing the social organisation and breeding biology of the White-browed Treecreeper (Climacteris affinis). The species is typical of many small Australian passerines in that it has high annual survival (~80%), small clutches (mean = 1.95 ± 0.05), long breeding seasons (eggs laid August to November) and long incubation (17–18 days) and nestling periods (25–26 days), corrected for body weight. Reproductive effort is modified in response to variation in climatic conditions by adjusting the commencement of breeding and number of clutches laid per season, which is facilitated by an extended breeding season. White-browed Treecreepers occupied relatively large (mean = 8.4 ± 0.8 ha), all-purpose territories throughout the year. However, unlike many group territorial birds, territory size was not related to the number of occupants. The role of food limitation and climatic variability in relation to territory dispersion and life-history traits is explored. Facultative cooperative breeding was confirmed. Cooperative groups were formed through male philopatry, with usually only one, but up to three, male helpers present in a moderate fraction (35%) of breeding units. Thus, all species of Climacteris are now confirmed as facultative cooperatively breeding species, which provides further evidence for the aggregation of cooperative breeders at the generic level in mixed (i.e. cooperative and pair breeders) phylogenetic clades. In C. affinis, males may attain breeding positions through inheritance of their natal territory or by filling vacancies in nearby territories. Females obtained breeding positions by ‘floating’ as non-breeding residents in established territories, waiting for a vacancy to arise.


Acknowledgments

This research was conducted in accordance with the instructions and regulations issued by the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme (Authority No. 2244) and approval was received to undertake colour-marking (leg-bands). This study was supported by an Australian Post-graduate Award. Financial assistance was also provided by the Victorian Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the Stuart Leslie Bird Research Fund (Birds Australia) and the M. A. Ingram Trust. Field assistance was kindly provided by Parks Victoria staff at Werrimull, especially Lorraine Ludewigs, Peter Teasdale, Jack Kelly, Travis Harman and Brian Goldsmith. An earlier version of the manuscript was improved by comments from Veronica Doerr, Gary Luck, Richard Retallick and Andrew Bennett.


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