Observations on the longevity and fecundity of the western Yellow-breasted Chat in the south Okanagan valley, British Columbia, Canada

René McKibbin and Christine A Bishop1

Environment Canada, 5421 Robertson Rd., Delta, B.C.  V4K 3N2;   e-mail: rene.mckibbin@ec.gc.ca and cab.bishop@ec.gc.ca
1 Corresponding Author

Abstract:   A breeding male Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens auricollis) lived for at least six years and showed fidelity to territory during those years. A female lived for at least five years and was found on the same study site for three of the five years. The male successfully fledged 22 chats at a fecundity rate of 3.14 while the female fledged nine chats at a fecundity rate of 2.25. The observations arose from annual colour-banding of chats during a survey starting in 2001 in the south Okanagan valley, British Columbia, Canada. The British Columbia population of the western subspecies of chat is endangered.

Key words: Yellow-breasted Chat, Icteria virens auricollis, longevity

PDFicon McKibbin, R. and C.A. Bishop. 2008. Observations on longevity and fecundity of the western Yellow-breasted Chat in the south Okanagan valley, British Columbia, Canada. British Columbia Birds 18:26-27.

 

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