Yellow-throated Honeyeater Nesoptilotis flavicollis parental care, foraging ecology and social behaviour compared with the White-eared Honeyeater N. leucotis

Abstract

The Yellow-throated Honeyeater Nesoptilotis flavicollis (Meliphagidae) is endemic to Tasmania and the Bass Strait islands. A watch at a nest attended by a colour-banded male and his mate revealed that the three nestlings were fed at a mean rate of 18.3 meals per hour 2 days before fledging. The female delivered more than half the meals and the male contributed at least 34% of them. Thus, this study showed that both the male and female of a pair fed the nestlings, contrary to previous reports that only the female feeds nestlings. Both male and female fed the fledglings. The foraging ecology, social behaviour and nesting ecology of the Yellow-throated Honeyeater and its sister species, the White-eared Honeyeater N. leucotis, are compared.