Nesting of the Chinese Bush Warbler (Tribura tacsanowskia, Sylviidae, Passeriforms) in the Amur Region

Abstract

A nest of the Chinese bush warbler (Tribura tacsanowskia) has been found and monitored in the Amur region for the first time. This is a poorly studied species distributed in southeastern Siberia, the Russian Far East, and the adjoining areas of Mongolia and China. Only seven nests of this species were found earlier, all of them in the Trans-Baikal Territory. Descriptions of those findings are given, including the habitat, location and structure of nests, egg clutch and downy chick, and behavior of adult birds at their nest. The time contributions of the male and female spent in percent in the nest, as well as to chick feeding and the ejection of chicks’ litter pellets have been calculated for the first time. The main parameters of nesting life have been revealed: daytime and nocturnal activity cycles of adult birds in the nest and daily graphs of nestling feeding hours. Observations of adult activity at the nesting site in the period of feeding the chicks in the nest and after their release from the nest are presented. Some other details of Chinese bush warbler behavior and nesting are presented.