Notornis, 30 (2), 137-165
Article Type: Paper
Grey Warblers (Gerygone igata) at Kowhai Bush, Kaikoura, apparently moulted once annually – between January and March. They nested in 19 kinds of trees and shrubs – mostly small-leaved species, especially kanuka, the dominant plant in the study area. Behaviour associated with selection of the nest site is described. A list of materials used in building is given. On average, nests were 14 cm long and just over 7 cm wide. Nearly half the nests hung freely from their upper attachment; others also had attachments laterally and below. The entrances of nests were non-randomly orientated in 1976 but not so as to face away from prevailing winds. Copulation is described. Three eggs in September were laid close to sunrise. Late eggs were wider on average than early ones but no different in length. The constant that related fresh weight of eggs, length, and the square of width was 0.598. Eggs lost about a quarter of their weight during incubation. Grey Warblers hatched with natal down distributed in eight main and two minor patches. The physical and behavioural development of nestlings is described. A sample of 19 nestlings had been fed invertebrates of six orders. Caterpillars occurred in 90% of stomachs and made up 42% of ingested items. Spiders were next most important of total items. Nestlings were parasitised by the blood-sucking mite Ornithonyssus bursa. Fledglings had distinctive dark brown irides and yellowish facial plumage until February-March, when they moulted to adult form. Males played the greater role in caring for early fledglings while the female built the late nest. Young males seemed rarely to be successful in holding territory the summer after that in which they were reared. Brood parasitism by Shining Cuckoos was the main cause of failure of late eggs (though a relatively minor factor overall); mammalian predation was the greatest single cause of nestling mortality.