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The reproductive biology of the Red Shining Parrot Prosopeia tabuensis on the island of ‘Eua, Kingdom of Tonga
Author(s) -
RINKE DIETER
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
ibis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1474-919X
pISSN - 0019-1019
DOI - 10.1111/j.1474-919x.1989.tb02766.x
Subject(s) - biology , fledge , breed , avian clutch size , seasonal breeder , temperate climate , zoology , ecology , predation , breeding pair , nest (protein structural motif) , ornithology , incubation , reproduction , demography , southern hemisphere , population , biochemistry , sociology
On Eua, Red Shining Parrots Prosopeia tabuensis breed in the cool and dry season, i.e. from May to October. Climate is the main factor timing the breeding season, which gives additional evidence for an assumed origin of the genus from temperate regions. Two or three eggs are laid in cavities of forest trees; the incubation time is about 24 days. Only females were observed brooding and feeding the young. Nestlings were fed three times a day independently of age. Single nestlings and older siblings received almost twice as much food per feeding as younger siblings. Growth constants are presented for weight, the width of the upper mandible, and wing‐length. The fledging age is reached after 7 weeks but none of the observed nests fledged young due to predation by man. Breeding success was calculated at more than 50% for those nestlings that would have fledged without human interference. The reproductive biology of the Red Shining Parrot does not, apparently, show island‐specific adaptations such as a reduced clutch‐size or a prolonged nestling period.