DETERMINANTS OF REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS IN A MEDITERRANEAN MULTI-BROODEDPASSERINE - THE BLACK WHEATEAR OENANTHE LEUCURA

The factors affecting individual variation in reproductive success in a multibrooded passerine, the Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucura, were st udied during five years in a dry inland depression in SE Spain. Black Wheatear pairs initiated 1-5 breeding attempts in a season, including relayings, and managed to raise 0-3 broods and 0-13 fledglings. The on set of breeding for different pairs spanned several months. The number of breeding attempts and the proportion of young resulting in fledged young (excluding predated broods) were the best predictors of seasona l reproductive success. Clutch size showed a quadratic relationship wi th laying date. Female age and time of residency and indexes of parent al condition such as discontinuities in feather growth or prevalence o f ectoparasites had significant effects on breeding productivity. Repe atabilities of breeding performance for males, females or in territori es were not significant.