The ecology of cavity nesting in the stitchbird (Notiomystis cincta)

Abstract

New Zealand's stitchbird (Notiomystis cincta) is the only species in the honeyeater family Meliphagidae known to nest in tree cavities. Cavity nesting in stitchbirds does not appear to coincide with two commonly-held assumptions about this type of nesting: that it evolved to protect nestlings against predators, and that the breeding density of cavity-nesters is limited by the number of available nest sites. A third assumption, that the nestling stage is longer in cavity nesters, is true for stitchbirds. A slower rate of growth is characteristic of nestlings which spend a longer period in the nest (Ricklefs 1968). As aggression from other honeyeater species limits stitchbird access to resources, such a reduction might increase the survival of the young.

Keywords:

• Meliphagidae
• honeyeaters
• Notiomystis cincta
• Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae
• Anthornis melanura
• stitchbird
• tui
• bellbird
• cavity nesting
• predation
• competition