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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 108(4)

Primary moult of adult Red-billed Queleas (Quelea quelea) in southern Africa in relation to patterns of movement

H. Dieter Oschadleus A B and Les G. Underhill A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Animal Demography Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa.

B Corresponding author. Email: dieter.oschadleus@uct.ac.za

Emu 108(4) 331-339 https://doi.org/10.1071/MU08019
Submitted: 17 April 2008  Accepted: 29 October 2008   Published: 9 December 2008

Abstract

The onset and duration of primary moult were investigated for adult Red-billed Queleas (Quelea quelea) in southern Africa. The duration of moult was shortest in Namibia (75 days), intermediate in Botswana (83 days) and longest in Gauteng Province (101 days) and the Eastern Cape (124 days), South Africa. The timing of the onset of moult was similar in Namibia and Botswana (21 and 31 May respectively), but considerably earlier in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng Province (6 and 23 April respectively). Completion of primary moult was well synchronised, ending in August in all sub-regions. Production of feather mass was uniform and speed of moult was controlled by the rate of growth of individual primaries. When moult was faster, fewer feathers grew simultaneously, possibly to reduce the aerodynamic effect of the wing-gap. Red-billed Queleas are thought to migrate relative to the movement of rain fronts, allowing possible multiple breeding events in one season. In southern Africa, Queleas are present throughout their range all year, and a proportion of the population moves short distances in apparently random directions. The large differences in timing and duration of moult in this study only support the short-distance ‘rainfall-migration’ model.


Acknowledgements

Ringing data were provided by Tim Osborne for Namibia, and Hans Meevis for Botswana. Thirty-eight ringers contributed data for Gauteng, especially Kobie Raijmakers, Hennie de Klerk, Shonie Raijmakers, Graham Grieve, Colin de Kock, Gail Schaum and Rihann Geyser. The Eastern Cape data were provided by Pat Hulley, Adrian Craig, Bo Bonnevie and Craig Whittington-Jones. Helpful comments on earlier drafts were provided by Lorenzo Serra, Marienne de Villiers, Peter Jones and Barbara Helm. This research was supported by a National Research Foundation (NRF) bursary to HDO. SAFRING’s current main sponsors are the Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism, and the Tony and Lisette Lewis Foundation. The University of Cape Town provides SAFRING with accommodation and services. LGU acknowledges support from the NRF and the University of Cape Town Research Committee.


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