Breeding Biology of the House Martin Delichon urbica in Algeria

Nawel Lahlah; Yassine Chabi; Mirosława Bańbura; Jerzy Bańbura

doi:10.3161/068.041.0207

How to translate text using browser tools

1 December 2006 Breeding Biology of the House Martin Delichon urbica in Algeria

Nawel Lahlah, Yassine Chabi, Mirosława Bańbura, Jerzy Bańbura

Author Affiliations +

Acta Ornithologica, 41(2):113-120 (2006). https://doi.org/10.3161/068.041.0207

Abstract

Dates of egg laying, clutch size, the numbers of hatchlings and fledglings, and egg dimensions were studied in Annaba, Algeria in 2004–2005. The onset of laying is related to the end of the wet period and shows some inter-year variation. 38–45% of breeding pairs produce two broods per year. Mean clutch size declines with the progress of the breeding season. Mean values vary between the first (4.7 eggs) and second clutch (3.5 eggs) but not between years. Hatching and fledging success is relatively low in comparison with other Western Palearctic populations, probably because of environmental constraints operating at the southern edge of the House Martin breeding area. The relatively small size of Algerian House Martin eggs fits the general geographic pattern of variation.

REFERENCES

1.

M. Antczak , M. Hromada , J. Grzybek , P. Tryjanowski 2004. Breeding biology of the Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor in W Poland. Acta Ornithol. 39: 9–14. Google Scholar

2.

N. P. Ashmole 1963. The regulation of numbers of tropical oceanic birds. Ibis 103: 458–473. Google Scholar

3.

J. R. Baker 1938. The evolution of breeding seasons. In: Evolution. Essays presented to E. S. Goodrich. Oxford Univ. Press. Google Scholar

4.

J. Bańbura , J. Blondel , H. de Wilde-Lambrechts , M-J. Galan , M. Maistre 1994. Nestling diet variation an insular Mediterranean population of Blue Tits Parus caeruleus: efects of years, territories and individuals. Oecologia 100: 413–420. Google Scholar

5.

J. Bańbura , P. Zieliński 1990. Within-clutch repeatability of egg dimensions in the black-headed gull Larus ridibundus. J. Ornithol. 131: 305–310. Google Scholar

6.

J. Bańbura , P. Zieliński 1998a. An analysis of egg-size repeatability in Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica. Ardeola 45: 183–192. Google Scholar

7.

J. Bańbura , P. Zieliński 1998b. Timing of breeding, clutch size and double-broodedness in Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica. Ornis Fennica 75: 177–183. Google Scholar

8.

J. Blondel , J. Aronson 1999. Biology and Wildlife of the Mediterranean Region. Oxford Univ. Press. Google Scholar

9.

J. Blondel , A. Dervieux , M. Maistre , P. Perret 1991. Feeding ecology and life history variation of the Blue Tit in Mediterranean deciduous and sclerophyllous habitats. Oecologia 88: 9–14. Google Scholar

10.

D. M. Bryant 1973. The factors influencing the selection of food by the house martin (Delichon urbica (L.)). J. Anim. Ecol. 42: 539–564. Google Scholar

11.

D. M. Bryant 1975. Breeding biology of house martins Delichon urbica (L.) in relation to aerial insect abundance. Ibis 117: 180–216. Google Scholar

12.

D. M. Bryant 1978a. Establishment of weight hierarches in the broods of house martins Delichon urbica. Ibis 120: 16–26. Google Scholar

13.

D. M. Bryant 1978b. Environmental influences on growth and survival of nestling house martins Delichon urbica. Ibis 120: 271–283. Google Scholar

14.

S. Cramp (ed.). 1988. The Birds of Western Palearctic. Vol. V. Oxford Univ. Press. Google Scholar

15.

H. O. P. Crick , D. W. Gibbons , R. D. Magrath 1993. Seasonal changes in clutch size in British birds. J. Anim. Ecol. 62: 263–273. Google Scholar

16.

D. Czeszczewik 2004. Breeding success and timing of the Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca nesting in natural holes and nest boxes in the Białowieża Forest, Poland. Acta Ornithol. 39: 15–20. Google Scholar

17.

F. de Lope , G. Gonzalez , J. J. Perez , A. P. Møller 1993. Increased detrimental effects of ectoparasites on their bird hosts during adverse environmental conditions. Oecologia 95: 234–240. Google Scholar

18.

N. Elkins 1988. Weather and Bird Behaviour. T & A D Poyser, London. Google Scholar

19.

R. D. Etchecopar , F. Hue 1964. Les Oiseaux du Nord de l'Afrique. Editions N. Boubee & C., Paris. Google Scholar

20.

J. T. Garcia , B. E. Arroyo 2001. Effects of abiotic factors on reproduction in the centre and periphery of breeding ranges: a comparative analysis in sympatric barriers. Ecography 24: 393–402. Google Scholar

21.

E. Górska 2001. Population density and breeding ecology of the House Martin Delichon urbica in Pomerania (NW Poland). Acta Ornithol. 36: 79–84. Google Scholar

22.

K. Hund , R. Prinzinger 1979. Untersuchungen zur Biologie der Mehlschwalbe Delichon urbica in Oberschwaben. Ökol. Vögel 1: 133–158. Google Scholar

23.

P. Kamiński , P. Wołosiuk 1995. Breeding ecology of House Martins Delichon urbica in the conditions of north-east Poland. Acta Ornithol. 29: 135–143. Google Scholar

24.

I. Kozena 1975. The food of young House Martins (Delichon urbica) in the Karkonosze Mountains. Zool. Listy 24: 149–162. Google Scholar

25.

I. Kozena 1983. Comparison of the diets of young Swallows (Hirundo rustica) and House Martins (Delichon urbica). Folia Zool. 32: 41–50. Google Scholar

26.

D. Lack 1947. The significance of clutch-size. Ibis 89: 302–352. Google Scholar

27.

D. Lack 1950. The breeding seasons of European birds. Ibis 92: 288–316. Google Scholar

28.

D. Lack 1973. Swifts in a Tower. Collins, London. Google Scholar

29.

E. A. Lind 1960. Zur Ethologie und Okologie der Mehlschwalbe, Delichon u. urbica (L.) Ann. Zool. Soc. Vanamo 21: 1–123. Google Scholar

30.

D. S. Lyuleeva 1974. [The breeding biology of swallows Delichon urbica, Hirundo rustica, Riparia riparia]. In: [Studies in Avian Biology]. Nauka, Leningrad. Google Scholar

31.

W. Makatsch 1974. Die Eier der Vögel Europas. Vol. II. Neuman Verlag, Radebeul. Google Scholar

32.

T. H. Manning 1979. Density and volume corrections of eggs of seven passerine birds. Auk 96: 207–211. Google Scholar

33.

A. P. Møller 1984. Geographical trends in breeding parameters of Swallows Hirundo rustica and House Martins Delichon urbica. Ornis Scand. 15: 43–54. Google Scholar

34.

L. Pajuelo , F. de Lope , E. da Silva 1992. Breeding biology of the House Martin (Delichon urbica) in Badajoz, W Spain. Ardeola 39: 15–23. Google Scholar

35.

C. M. Perrins 1970. The timing of birds' breeding seasons. Ibis 112: 242–255. Google Scholar

36.

C. M. Perrins 1996. Eggs, egg formation and the timing of breeding. Ibis 138: 2–15. Google Scholar

37.

J. Pikula , M. Beklova 1987. Bionomics of species of the family Hirundinidae. Acta Sc. Nat. Brno 21: 1–39. Google Scholar

38.

B. Pinowska , M. Barkowska , J. Pinowski , A. Bartha , K.-H. Hahm , N. Lebedeva 2004. The effect of egg size on growth and survival of the Tree Sparrow Passer montanus nestlings. Acta Ornithol. 39: 121–135. Google Scholar

39.

G. Rheinwald 1979. Brutbiologie der Mehlschwalbe (Delichon urbica) im Bereich der Voreifel. Vogelwelt 100: 85–107. Google Scholar

40.

N. Saino , M. Romano , Ambrosini , R. P. Ferrari , A. P. Møller 2004. Timing of reproduction and egg quality covary with temperature in the insectivorous Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica. Funct. Ecol. 18: 50–57. Google Scholar

41.

R. Sakraoui , W. Dadci , Y. Chabi , J. Bańbura 2005. Breeding biology of Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica in Algeria, North Africa. Ornis Fennica 82: 33–43. Google Scholar

42.

J. Seriot , D. Alves 2002. Les Hirondelles. Delachaux et Niestle, Paris. Google Scholar

43.

D. W. Snow , C. M. Perrins 1998. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. Concise Edition. Vol. II. Oxford Univ. Press. Google Scholar

44.

R. R. Sokal , F. J. Rohlf 1995. Biometry. 3^rd edition. Freeman, New York. Google Scholar

45.

A. Turner , C. Rose 1989. A Handbook of the Swallows and Martins of the World. C. Helm, London. Google Scholar

46.

S. Ward , D. M. Bryant 2006. Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica form eggs mainly from current food intake. J. Avian Biol. 37: 179–189. Google Scholar

47.

D. A. Wiggins , T. Pärt , L. Gustafsson 1994. Seasonal decline in collared flycatcher Ficedula albicollis reproductive success: an experimental approach. Oikos 70: 359–364. Google Scholar

48.

H. S. Zandt 1997. Water content of prey of nestling blue tits in a Corsican habitat. Neth. J. Zool. 47: 125–131. Google Scholar

49.

P. Zieliński , J. Bańbura 1998. Egg size variation in the Swallow Hirundo rustica. Acta Ornithol. 33: 191–196. Google Scholar

Citation Download Citation

Nawel Lahlah, Yassine Chabi, Mirosława Bańbura, and Jerzy Bańbura "Breeding Biology of the House Martin Delichon urbica in Algeria," Acta Ornithologica 41(2), 113-120, (1 December 2006). https://doi.org/10.3161/068.041.0207

Received: 1 September 2006; Accepted: 1 November 2006; Published: 1 December 2006

Access the abstract

JOURNAL ARTICLE
8 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER + SAVE TO MY LIBRARY