Breeding ecology of the Collared Flycatcher in forest-steppe deciduous forests
of Sumy region. - N.P. Knysh. - Berkut. 12 (1-2). 2003. - P. 100-111.
The study was carried out on the station “Vakalivshchina” (51.01 N,
34.55 E) near Sumy mainly in 1999–2002. In middle-aged and old deciduous
forest population density of the species remains at a level in 20–50 pairs/km2,
in areas with many nest boxes it increases till 426 pairs/km2. In spring first
Collared Flycatchers arrive from 1.04 (1979) till 3.05 (1987), on average 17.04
±1,8 (standard error) days (n = 19). 535 cases of nesting were observed.
44 (8,2 %) nests were found in tree hollows, 478 (91,8 %) – in nest boxes
for small birds. The earliest nests with first egg were recorded from 27.04
(2000) till 10.05 (1991, 1999), on average 5.05 ± 1,2 days (n = 13);
the latest ones – 26.05 (1997, 1999) – 12.06 (1974), on average 3.06
± 1,7 days (n = 10). The maximum (30,6 %) of clutches arrives during
the third pentad of May (Table 1). Average date of beginning of egg laying (including
repeated clutches) is 14.05 ± 0,4 days (n = 382, SD = 7,7). Average duration
of phases of successful reproductive cycle, days: nest building – 4 (n
= 4), pause before egg laying – 2,6 ± 0,2 (n = 47), egg laying –
6,47 ± 0,05 (n = 363), brooding – 13,2 ± 0,2 (n = 25), feeding
of nestlings – 15,0 ± 0,2 (n = 25). Full clutches have 4–9,
on average 6,47 ± 0,05 eggs (n = 363). Differences of average clutch
sizes in separate years are described (Table 3). Number of eggs decreases during
the breeding season (Table 4). Egg measurements depend on clutch size (Table
5), average values: 18,06 ± 0,02 x 13,36 ± 0,01 mm (15,6–21,0
x 11,4–14,8 mm; n = 1545). Their differences in separate years were studied
(Table 6). Broods have on average 5,68 ± 0,10 (n = 193) hatchlings and
5,25 ± 0,13 (n = 162) fledglings (Table 7). Hatching productivity makes
up on average 4,66 ± 0,19 (n = 183), fledging productivity – 4,01
± 0,20 individuals per active nest (Table 8) or 74,3 and 63,9 % from
eggs laid. Breeding success differs on years a little, but it depends on clutch
size (Table 9). The largest losses of offspring (Table 10) are during brooding
(20,9 %) and feeding of nestlings (10,4 %), the least ones – during egg
laying (4,8 %). Predation (mainly by Dryomys nitedula) is the main reason
of death (46,4 % of reproductive losses). [Russian].
Key words: Collared Flycatcher, Ficedula albicollis, Sumy region,
ecology, breeding, clutch, breeding success, migration.
Adress: N.P. Knysh, Sumy Pedagogical University, Dep. of Zoology, Romenska
str. 87, 40002, Sumy, Ukraine.
