The reproductive biology of the Rock Partridge Alectoris graeca saxatilis in the southern French Alps: first evidence of double-nesting behaviour

Abstract

ABSTRACTCapsule: Double-nesting occurs frequently in Rock Partridges Alectoris graeca living in the southern French Alps.Aims: To investigate reproductive parameters of a Rock Partridge Alectoris graeca population.Methods: The reproductive behaviour of 62 radio-tagged birds was monitored during the breeding seasons 2012–16, to record breeding phenology, clutch sizes, hatching success, nest survival and parental care.Results: Double-nesting behaviour in the Rock Partridge was confirmed for the first time. Participation in incubation was similar for males and females (86% versus 70%). Clutch size was larger for nests incubated by males (11.0 ± 1.6 eggs) than by females (9.5 ± 1.2). Male nest survival rate (0.37) tended to be lower than female nest survival rate (0.62), although the difference was not significant. No significant difference was detected between male and female hatching success. Nest failures were caused by mammals taking the eggs (78%) or predation of the incubating parent (13%). Some circumstantial evidence suggests that occurrence of double-nesting behaviour could depend on previous winter and spring weather influencing the body condition of females. The reproductive biology of the Rock Partridge contrasts in some breeding traits with Red-legged Partridge and natural partridge hybrids, possibly due to climatic differences between habitats.Conclusion: Confirmation of double-nesting in Rock Partridges indicates that climatic constraints inherent to its mountain environment do not act as an impediment to this behaviour. Variation in weather conditions between years could influence the annual occurrence of double-nesting.