Chalcites Lucidus Research Articles

Biological inventory for conservation evaluation III. Relationships between birds, vegetation and environmental attributes in southern Australia

Relationships between diurnal, terrestrial birds, vegetation and environmental attributes were investigated in the open Eucalyptus forests of south east Australia. Of the 83 bird species recorded, the probability of occurrence of the Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Superb Fairy-wren, Golden Whistler, Fan-tailed Cuckoo and Shining Bronze-Cuckoo was modelled. The Yellow-faced Honeyeater was the only taxon modelled whose distribution could be best explained using climatic variables. The other four species were related to habitat features at the site level. The models developed for these species were specific to each data set used and are unlikely to be appropriate for other data collected at other times of the year. Statistical modelling was used to investigate the response of bird assemblages to environmental and biological regimes. The models reflect differences in the bird species composition of sites in relation to elevation and soil moisture/nutrient gradients across the region. Birds favouring higher elevations were separated from birds favouring mid and lower elevations. Birds favouring wetter environments were separated from those using drier habitats although these species were also present in the wetter environments. Differences in the distribution of birds related to elevation were explained by the environmental attributes minimum temperature of the coldest month and mean precipitation of the driest quarter which also affect vegetation formations and associations across the study region. Vegetation floristics and topographic position, which can reflect the moisture and nutrient status of sites, were important in characterising the specific habitat requirements of a number of birds. Physical and biological regimes were significantly related to bird species richness. Species richness was found to be greatest in moist forests found at mid and low elevations throughout the year. A stratified field survey was successful in recording the majority of forest birds that can occur in the eucalypt forests of south east Australia but sufficient data for reliably modelling the distribution and habitat quality of birds were obtained for only about 10% of the birds recorded. Even when data from two census periods were aggregated, data were sufficient for only 27% of the total number of birds recorded to develop a habitat model. Suggested modifications to the survey design based on the data and analyses used in this study, are discussed in terms of the intended purpose of the field survey.

Morphology and migration ofChrysococcyx lucidus, an Australasian cuckoo

The bill widths and dates of collection of up to 427 museum skins (depending on the analysis) of the cuckoo Chrysococcyx lucidus are considered. The species occurs, and breeds, at temperate latitud...

Brood‐parasitism by the Shining Cuckoo Chrysococcyx lucidus at Kaikoura, New Zealand

For three seasons starting in 1976 I studied the breeding of Shining Cuckoos Chrysococcyx lucidus in forest near Kaikoura, New Zealand. There is no evidence that the cuckoo parasitizes any host on mainland New Zealand other than the Grey Warbler Gerygone igata. A nestling cuckoo returned to within 1 km of its natal site in a subsequent breeding season, presumably after migrating beyond New Zealand. Empirical and theoretical estimates of the area occupied by Shining Cuckoos while breeding are given. Cuckoos near Kaikoura laid during ten weeks, the modal week of laying following seven weeks after the presumed peak of arrival of birds in New Zealand. First clutches of the host escaped parasitism because they were laid before most cuckoos arrived. Parasitized clutches received one cuckoo egg which replaced a host's egg. It was laid before, just after or long after the host began incubating, and mimicry was lacking. Cuckoo eggs, which were about 8% of the adult cuckoo's weight, hatched in 14–17 days. The frequency of parasitism near Kaikoura was 55% of late clutches (n = 40).At 3–7 days old, nestling Shining Cuckoos evicted from the nest all other contents. The nestling period was at least 19 days. Growth in weight followed a logistic curve and the equation is given. Just over half the cuckoo eggs produced fledglings. The effect of brood‐parasitism on the Grey Warbler's productivity was small. Only 17% of late warbler eggs, and late eggs only, were prevented by parasitism from yielding fledglings. Late laying by some Shining Cuckoos (relative to the host's incubational cycle), and late eviction, often led to brief inter‐specific competition among nestlings for food. The brief coexistence of young Warblers and Cuckoos in the nest may explain the apparent mimicry by newly‐hatched Shining Cuckoos of the host's young.

The Grey Warbler's Care of Nestlings: A Comparison Between Unparasitised Broods and those Comprising a Shining Bronze-Cuckoo

SUMMARYGILL, B.J. 1982 The Grey Warbler's care of nestlings: a comparison between unparasitised broods and those comprising a Shining Bronze-Cuckoo. Emu 82: 177–181.Grey Warblers Gerygone igata at Kaikoura, New Zealand, raised either a brood of up to four of their own young or one nestling Shining Bronze-Cuckoo Chrysococcyx lucidus. The Cuckoo never weighed as much as four nestling Warblers of the same age, was visited with food less often than three or four Warblers, and had fewer faecal sacs removed. Therefore raising a Cuckoo to fledging required less effort in terms of feeding-visits and hygiene than raising a brood of several Warblers. Single Cuckoos were brooded more on average than three or four Warblers of the same age, for a greater part of the nestling period and in longer spells. Thus the pattern of brooding by adult Warblers was not determined entirely endogenously but was modified by external stimuli.

Nematode parasites of the shining cuckoo,Chrysococcyx lucidus lucidus(Aves: Cuculiformes), in New Zealand

Abstract Four of 28 shining cuckoo cadavers examined were infected with a new species of intestine-inhabiting nematode, here described as Ascaridia zelandica. Irom all other species known from cuckoos by having the caudal alae distinctly divided into an anterior part that extends posteriorly to the mid-tail region, and a more posterior part that extends almost to the tail tip. It is further distinguished from all other species from cuckoos except A. trilabium by the possession of cervical alae; and from A. trilabium by the possession of 12 pairs of caudal papillae, spicules more than 2.5 mm long, and a median or slightly posterior vulva (V = 52–55%). One cuckoo contained females of a Microtetrameres species which is not named or described because of the lack of male specimens.

Cuculicola kuin.sp. (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) from the New Zealand shining cuckoo

Abstract The chewing louse Cuculicola kui n.sp., from Chalcites lucidus lucidus (Gmelin, 1788), is described and illustrated.

Removal of eggs by a Shining Bronze-Cuckoo

Removal of eggs by a Shining Bronze-Cuckoo

MIGRATORY BIRDS AND THE DISPERSAL OF AVIAN MALARIA PARASITES IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC

Plasmodium relictum (Grassi and Feletti) is recorded for the first time from the tropical South Pacific (Guadalcanal, British Solomon Islands Protectorate). The hosts—the shining cuckoo, Chalcites l. lucidus (Gmelin), and the broad-billed flycatcher, Myiagra f. ferrocyanea Ramsay—are new, the former one being a migratory species breeding in New Zealand, but spending the southern winter in the Solomons. The significance of this natural dispersal route for an avian malaria parasite is briefly discussed.

A New Race of the Cuckoo, Chalcites lucidus, from the New Hebrides Islands

A New Race of the Cuckoo, Chalcites lucidus, from the New Hebrides Islands

Feeding Habits of the Shining Bronze-Cuckoo

Feeding Habits of the Shining Bronze-Cuckoo