Description of nests, eggs, and nestlings of the endangered nightingale reed-warbler on Saipan, Micronesia

The Wilson Bulletin
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Abstract

We describe the first verified nests, eggs, and nestlings of the Nightingale Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus luscinia), an endangered species endemic to the Mariana Islands, Micronesia. Nest composition, nest dimensions, and eggs were studied on the island of Saipan. Nests were located within three habitat types: upland introduced tangantangan (Leucaena leucocephala) forest, a native mangrove (Bruguiera gymnorrhiza) wetland, and a native reed (Phragmites karka) wetland. Nesting substrates included five native and two introduced tree species and one native reed species. Nests were composed primarily of dry vine stems, needle-like branchlets of ironwood (Casuarina equisetifolia), and tangantangan petioles. Nests were compact to bulky in construction and were secured to a forked arrangement of branches or stems. The background color of eggs ranged from white to cream to ivory-buff. Eggs were spotted, speckled, and blotched with gray, brown, black, and rust colored markings. Clutch size was 2–4, with a mode of two. Hatchlings were altricial with closed eyelids and devoid of natal down with dark gray to black skin. Nestlings examined prior to fledging resembled the adult plumage, except for the lack of the yellow supercilium found in adults. The nests and eggs have some characteristics similar to those of other Acrocephaline warblers found throughout Micronesia and Polynesia.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Description of nests, eggs, and nestlings of the endangered nightingale reed-warbler on Saipan, Micronesia
Series title The Wilson Bulletin
DOI 10.1676/0043-5643(2002)114[0001:DONEAN]2.0.CO;2
Volume 114
Issue 1
Year Published 2002
Language English
Publisher Wilson Ornithological Society
Description 10 p.
First page 1
Last page 10
Country Northern Mariana Islands
Other Geospatial Saipan
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