Faithfulness to Breeding Site and Birthplace in Noisy Friarbirds Philemon corniculatus

Abstract

Noisy Friarbirds are migratory near Armidale, arriving in August and departing by the end of April. Annual adult survival is 89%, with adults returning to the same breeding sites in subsequent years. In some cases individual birds use similar, even identical, nest sites over several years. Some, probably most, individuals do not breed every year, but nevertheless return to their breeding sites. In contrast, only one bird fledged at the site has returned in later years to breed.