The breeding biology of the Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer in Fiji

Abstract

In Fiji, the Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer has a distinct breeding season which occurs during the rains. The Bulbul has a mean clutch size of 2.5. There is a high rate of egg and nestling loss; 72% of eggs laid do not hatch and 53% of nestlings do not survive. Bulbuls have an extended period of parental care of fledglings and are unlikely to raise more than one brood in a season. Fledgling survival appears to be good and the annual recruitment rate is probably about 30%, although in one year it was considerably less.