The breeding biology of the Scimitarbilled Woodhoopoe

Abstract

Steyn, P. 1999. The breeding biology of the Scimitarbilled Woodhoopoe. Ostrich 70 (3&4): 173–178. The breeding biology of the Scimitarbilled Woodhoopoe Rhinopomastus cyanomelas was studied at two sites in Zimbabwe over a 13-year period from 1964–1977. The pairs were resident, remained together throughout the year, and inspected their nest sites occasionally during the non-breeding season. The breeding season extended from August to December with a marked September/October peak. Eggs were laid at daily intervals. Clutch size averaged 2.9 (range 2–4). Incubation began either with the penultimate or last laid egg. During the 13–14 day incubation period the female left the nest only occasionally each day and was reliant on the male for food. This pattern continued for four days after the chicks hatch. Thereafter she started to forage and gradually increased her contribution to chick provisioning until she overtook that of the male. With one exception, he never fed the chicks directly and delivered the food to the female. The nestlings were brooded overnight for the first two weeks. The anti-predator response of the young included a malodorous brown exudation from the preen gland and unpleasant liquid excreta. The nestling period was 21–24 days and the young left the vicinity of the nest with their parents and did not return to roost in it. Twelve breeding cycles were monitored and 76% of eggs laid (n=37) produced fledged young. Second broods were raised in the same nest on two occasions after successful rearing of the first, presumably by the same pair, but the birds were not individually marked. There was no evidence of helpers at the nest.