The breeding biology of Gurney's Sugarbird, Promerops gurneyi, in Qwaqwa National Park, Free State

Abstract

Gurney's Sugarbird, Promerops gurneyi, is less well known than the Cape Sugarbird, Promerops cofer. The breeding biology of Gurney's Sugarbird was studied from September 1998 to February 1999. Few sugarbirds attempted to breed at the study site in Qwaqwa National Park, eastern Free State. Three birds had returned to the site from the previous year. Six nests were found, five in Protea roupelliae and one in Protea caffra. Nests were described and measured, and females were observed building nests, incubating eggs and brooding nestlings. Males fed chicks, but their main contribution to breeding was the defence of inflorescences. Five clutches totalling nine eggs produced five fledglings. The incubation, nestling and fledgling phases were recorded in detail for four chicks.