Breeding Ecology of Alcippe vinipectus at Pianma Pass on Gaoligong Mountain, Yunnan

From March to May of 2014, the breeding ecology of 20 pairs of nesting Whitebrowed Fulvetta (Alcippe vinipectus) was studied at Pianma Pass in Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve. Field observations indicated that both male and female had engaged in nest construction, egg incubation and nestlings feeding. These three breeding stages lasted for 10d, 17d, 14d (n=1), respectively. In this breeding season, clutch size varied between 1 and 4 eggs, averaging 264 ± 093 (n=14). Average size was (167 ± 008)cm × (128 ± 005)cm (n=33), average weight was (147 ± 013)g (n=14); During the incubation, each incubation bout for a parent bird was (3207 ± 1472)min, the bird turned over the eggs every (1413 ± 1380)min. The parents fed the nestlings at the interval of (1611 ± 1414)min. Out of 20 nests, only 1 nest was successfully hatched by May 18, while 7 did not complete their breeding, 12 failed due to predation, storms, or human disturbance. Strong winds and rainfall might be the main abiotic factors influencing their breeding.