Life history characteristics of two Australian honeyeaters (Meliphagidae)

Abstract

Most endemic Australian passerines that have been studied display long breeding seasons, multiple nesting attempts, small clutches, low annual productivity, high longevity and a high incidence of cooperative breeding. We compare the life histories of two large endemic honeyeaters (Meliphagidae) near Armidale, New South Wales. Red wattlebirds, Anthochaera carunculata, have a long breeding season, with many nesting attempts and clutches of two eggs, similar to other honeyeaters whose breeding biology has been studied. Noisy friarbirds, Philemon corniculatus, which are spring and summer visitors to the study area, have shorter breeding seasons, usually making one attempt and have a modal clutch size of three. Both species had incubation and nestling periods of about 16 days. Friarbirds apparently have a laying interval of 24 hours, the same as other honeyeaters, but unlike some other endemic passerines, which have laying intervals of 48 hours. Breeding success did not differ between the species, with young fledging from 32.7% of wattlebird nests and 40.9% of friarbird nests. The reproductive strategy of the noisy friarbird thus differs quantitatively from the apparent norm for other honeyeaters and many other Australian endemic passerines.