Observations on the Ecology and Breeding Biology of the Speckled Warbler Chthonicola sagittata near Bendigo, Victoria

Abstract

Observations on the Speckled Warbler Chthonicola sagittata were made between June 1992 and January 1993 in box-ironbark open forest near Bendigo in central Victoria. Foraging behaviour, movements and vocalisations of a pair of birds were studied from June to September, but these birds were not located during the breeding period. Speckled Warblers were found to forage predominantly on the ground, often among mixed-species feeding flocks, but they were observed to hawk insects n summer, feeding more on the ground in winter. They were found to be competent mimics of other birds, as well as having nine recognised calls of their own.

Breeding of a single pair of Speckled Warblers was studied in spring 1992. Both sexes built the nests, which were placed on the ground under small, leafy branches (both living and dead). Eggs were laid on alternate days from c. 13 to 17 September and hatched on c. 29 September to 3 October (c. 16 days incubation). A total of three eggs was laid, and all three of the young survived and left the nest on 18 or 19 October (c. 15-20 days nestling period). Only the female was observed to incubate but both parents shared equally in feeding the nestlings. Once fledged, the young stayed within 250 m of the nest and were fed by both parents for 43-67 days. During the first few days after fledging, the young perched quietly together on small, low branches and roosted in a similar situation. On approximately the third or fourth day after fledging, the young became noticeably more active and began flying more.

Two subsequent attempts at breeding failed. A second nest was commenced but the birds abandoned this. The female laid a second clutch in a third nest, which was destroyed in the incubation period by an unknown predator.