Communal behaviour of nesting Noisy Miners

Abstract

Observations of Noisy Miners Myzantha melanocephala at seven nests in south-eastern Queensland showed them to be communal breeders, in the sense that several birds habitually visited the nest, fed the nestlings, and fed the fledged young. Results are based primarily on observations of nests of small colour banded groups. At the most intensively studied nest, most activity was by two birds, although there were at least eight other visitors. Only one female incubated and brooded. Visitors arrived at the nest most frequently when the incubating female was absent. Visits varied considerably in number, but were usually between 30 and 50 per hour, many more than recorded for most passerine birds.