BREEDING-SEASON AND CLUTCH SIZE OF THE NOISY PITTA PITTA VERSICOLOR IN TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL AUSTRALIA

Data on the breeding season and clutch size of the Noisy Pitta Pitta v ersicolor were obtained from the literature, RAOU's Nest Record Scheme and egg collections to Australia and overseas. Overall most egg layin g occurs between October and January but on Cape York Peninsula it is significantly later (November-February). This is likely to be associat ed with the very seasonal rainfall on Cape York compared with other re gions. Clutches of three and four were most common. That clutches were significantly smaller in tropical than subtropical regions may be ass ociated with the scarcity of food resources in humid tropical rainfore st.