Notes on the breeding biology of the Sichuan Treecreeper (Certhia tianquanensis)

Abstract

The Sichuan Treecreeper, Certhia tianquanensis Li 1995, was recently recognized as an independent species. Apparently, it is an endemic relict occupying an extremely small range in western Sichuan and Shaanxi provinces, China. During April-July 2003, its breeding biology was studied using field observation and data logger records of five nests found on Wawu Shan in Sichuan province, southwest China. Nest materials were mainly mosses; eggs are white with dense red spots concentrated at the large pole. During the incubation period, the male fed the female outside the nest with 6-13 min intervals between the single feeding events; afterwards, the female regularly returned to the nest within 47.8 ± 25.2 s. The female took 22.14 ± 3.24 recesses per day, with the mean recess length of 8.18 min throughout the incubation period. After the nestlings hatched, the female went out more often than during the incubation period: 55 and 56 times during the first 2 days of nestling period (off-nest time of 6.55 ± 3.15 min). Both parents fed the nestlings.