STUDIES OF A BREEDING POPULATION OF WALLER'S REDWLNGED STARLINGS IN MONTANE FORESTS OF SOUTH-CENTRAL AFRICA

Summary

Dowsett-Lemaire, F. 1983. Studies of a breeding population of Waller's Redwinged Starlings in montane forests of south-central Africa. Ostrich. 54:105-112.

The breeding biology and behaviour of Waller's Redwinged Starling Onychognuthus walleri was studied for two seasons in forest patches on the Nyika Plateau, 2 200 m ad. (Malaŵi-Zambia). In general behaviour (e.g. strong pair bond, fidelity to the nest site), O. walleri resembles other species of the genus. Twenty-six egg-laying records are from late August to mid-November (i.e. end of dry season to early rains). Suitable nest sites (natural holes in trees) seem to be in short supply, and the non-breeding population is far in excess of the breeding one. Incubation periods lasted 13 days (2) to 16 days (1). One nestling period was 29 days. Insects are more important than fruits in the diet of nestlings. Annual breeding productivity is low (0,5-0,6 young/breeding pair) because of heavy nest predation, and at tunes insect-food shortages leading to starvation of young. There were few re-laying attempts, and only one abnormal attempt at a second brood.

Two other congeneric species, the Slenderbilled Redwinged Starling O. tenuirostris and the African Redwinged Starling O. morio also breed on the Nyika. Notes on their feeding habits, numbers and nest sites are given. One nest site of O. tenuirostris on a wet rock face by waterfalls was taken over by O. morio in the following season.