SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE OLIVACEOUS WARBLER HIPPOLAIS PALLIDA IN EGYPT.

Abstract

Summary.Preliminary obsenations on Olivaceous Warblers Hippolais pallida were made at Fayid, Egypt, in the summers of 1949–50. General notes are given on habitat, possible competitors, song and field‐characters. Males arrive before females and establish territories, where the females later locate them. One male built an incomplete nest while still unmated. It is probable that the male initially treats a female as an intruder in the territory. Some notes are given on pair‐relationship; male song declines on pair‐formation. The male builds while the female incubates, leaving the nest to feed. The incubation period is 11 days± 1 day (once), the nestling period 15 days± 1 day (once). Average clutch‐size is apparently smaller in Egypt than in the Balkans, Spain and Tunisia, but exact figures are lacking. Both sexes care for the young. After the breeding season birds remain in a limited area, moult and show no aggression to intruders, leaving for the south in August and September.