ABSTRACT

The breeding ecology of high-altitude birds in the Himalaya and the Hengduan Mountains remains poorly known. The present study describes the breeding biology of the Fire-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga ignicauda in southwestern China. Fieldwork was conducted at a high-altitude mountain pass in the Gaoligong Mountains from March to July 2014. Based on 20 nests found from 3102–3288 m a.s.l., we collect detailed information on life-history traits and breeding ecology parameters of the Fire-tailed Sunbird. The clutch size was one (n = 1) or two (n = 10) eggs, with fresh eggs weighing 1.28 ± 0.02 g (n = 8), and the nestling period lasting 19.5 days (n = 2). Both males and females participated in feeding nestlings, but females had significantly higher feeding frequencies than males. Compared to its low-altitude congeners, the Fire-tailed Sunbird elevated parental investments to their offspring by producing fewer eggs and providing more parental care to nestlings. This suite of life-history and behavioural strategies enables fledgling Fire-tailed Sunbirds to cope with harsh environments in higher altitudinal mountains.