Male behavior and polygamy in Cisticola juncidis

Abstract

1. The breeding behavior particularly of the male Cisticola juncidis was studied in 1967 at Chikuma River basin, Nagano prefecture.2. The observation data were obtained by '2-hour observation' between 8-10 a. m.3. The chief behaviors of the male are singing and nest-building.4. The male sings two kinds of song, the air and perch songs, and both the frequency and length of the songs are greater in the air song.5. The male sings through the breeding season from early April to middle September, and the frequency and the length of the songs per hour were 12.9 times and 12 minutes 37 seconds in average respectively.6. The male constructs the outer wall of the nest and the female works for inside lining. One male constructed 20 nests during a breeding season, of which 8 were used by different females.7. The nesting behavior was recorded on 66 days (84.6%) of the 78 days observation between April 25 and September 11. Average 6.6 days were required for construction of one nest.8. The male abandoned the nests which were not used by females and may take their material for construction of a new nest.9. The above two sustained behaviors of the male, the continuous singing and nesting, have definitive roles in functioning its polygomous breeding system, for accepting the females successfully.