Polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers for the grey fantail,Rhipidura albiscapa

We isolated and characterized five polymorphic microsatellite markers for the grey fantail Rhipidura albiscapa from genomic libraries enriched for (AC)_n and (GT)_n microsatellites. In 34 adult individuals, the number of alleles per locus ranged from eight to 17. Observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.65 to 0.94 and 0.83 to 0.94, respectively. These markers will be useful for analysing extra‐pair paternity in fantails.     

Mixed-species flocking of forest birds on Little Barrier Island

Abstract

Three aspects of mixed-species flocking of forest birds on Little Barrier Island were investigated. Whiteheads, fantails, parakeets, and grey warblers occurred more often in flocks than in “non-flocking” situations. Whiteheads were the main lead species, although parakeets formed groups within flocks and occasionally appeared to lead. Whitehead clumps defined the flock centre; only fantails were found commonly in the centre with whiteheads. Birds other than whiteheads generally orientated below or to the side of their nearest neighbours. We suggest that mixed-species flocking is a significant factor influencing the structure of forest bird communities in New Zealand during winter.     

Frequency distribution and environmental correlates of plumage polymorphism in the grey fantail Rhipidura fuliginosa

Abstract

The grey fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa) in New Zealand displays a striking plumage polymorphism. Some individuals are coloured almost entirely black (the “black morph"), while other individuals sport a contrasting brown and white plumage (the “pied morph"). The adaptive significance of plumage polymorphism in this species is unknown. We mapped the relative distribution and frequency of each morph across the entire South Island range of the fantail, and correlated the frequency of the morphs with a variety of ecological variables. The black morph comprised <5% of individuals across the South Island and, contrary to previous observations, was least frequent at the southern extremes of its range. From historical records, the frequency of the black morph also appears to have declined, although we cannot rule out a bias in reporting rates of the black morph in the literature. The relative frequency of the two morphs was not related to vegetation type, annual rainfall, altitude, or mean annual temperature. Although we could not identify an environmental variable that might explain the distribution of the two morphs over the South Island, changes in the relative abundance of each morph suggest a dynamic process that warrants further long‐term study.     

Nest desertion by Grey Fantails during nest building in response to perceived predation risk

ABSTRACT Grey Fantails (Rhipidura albiscapa), a common Australian flycatcher, commonly desert their nests before egg‐laying. We tested the hypothesis that Grey Fantails desert incomplete nests in response to the attention of predators by placing a mounted Pied Currawong (Strepera graculina), a common nest predator, near fantail nests that were under construction. As a control, we placed a mounted King Parrot (Alisteris scapularis), a nonpredatory bird similar in size to Pied Currawongs, near other fantail nests. Four of six female fantails (67%) deserted incomplete nests in response to the presentation of the Pied Currawong. In contrast, none of the seven females presented with a mounted King Parrot deserted. Female Grey Fantails may use the attention of a predator at the nest during the building stage as a cue to desert. Such desertion may be adaptive for Grey Fantails because currawongs are large predators, making successful nest defense unlikely, and they also present considerable risk to adults. In addition, fantails may raise multiple broods during a breeding season and, therefore, have a high renesting potential.     

A new Indo-Malayan member of the Stenostiridae (Aves: Passeriformes) revealed by multilocus sequence data: Biogeographical implications for a morphologically diverse clade of flycatchers

Recent molecular studies on passerine birds have highlighted numerous discrepancies between traditional classification and the phylogenetic relationships recovered from sequence data. Among the traditional families that were shown to be highly polyphyletic are the Muscicapidae Old World flycatcher. This family formerly included all Old World passerines that forage on small insects by performing short sallies from a perch. Genera previously allocated to the Muscicapidae are now thought to belong to at least seven unrelated lineages. While the peculiarity of most of these lineages has been previously recognized by Linnean classification, usually at the rank of families, one, the so-called Stenostiridae, a clade comprising three Afrotropical and Indo-Malayan genera, has only recently been discovered. Here, we address in greater detail the phylogenetic relationships and biogeographic history of the Stenostiridae using a combination of mitochondrial and nuclear data. Our analyses revealed that one species, Rhipidura hypoxantha, previously attributed to the Rhipiduridae (fantails), is in fact a member of the Stenostiridae radiation and sister to the South African endemic genus Stenostira (Fairy Flycatcher). Our dating analyses, performed in a relative-time framework, suggest that the splits between Stenostira/R. hypoxantha and Culicicapa/Elminia occurred synchronously. Given that the Stenostiridae assemblage has been consistently recovered by independent studies, we clarify its taxonomic validity under the rules of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.