Group Movements of the White-winged Chough

Abstract

Observations on group movements of the White-winged Chough, Corcorax melanorhamphus, were made during a study period of seven years and nine months, at Inverell, New South Wales. This paper describes the movement of groups, fluctuating population of the nesting group, determination of sex and age in the field, marking of feeding and nesting territory, and associated behaviour. It will be shown that the large groups of Corcorax are composed of independent sub-groups each dominated by a male, assisted by an immature male. The breeding line is patrilineal; the female population inconstant. There were two main study areas.