Life history characteristics of two Australian honeyeaters (Meliphagidae)

Most endemic Australian passerines that have been studied display long bree ding seasons, multiple nesting attempts, small clutches, low annual product ivity, high longevity and a high incidence of cooperative breeding. We comp are the life histories of two large endemic honeyeaters (Meliphagidae) near Armidale, New South Wales. Red wattlebirds, Anthochaera carunculata, have a long breeding season, with many nesting attempts and clutches of two eggs , similar to other honeyeaters whose breeding biology has been studied. Noi sy friarbirds, Philemon corniculatus, which are spring and summer visitors to the study area, have shorter breeding seasons, usually making one attemp t and have a modal clutch size of three. Both species had incubation and ne stling periods of about 16 days. Friarbirds apparently have a laying interv al of 24 hours, the same as other honeyeaters, but unlike some other endemi c passerines, which have laying intervals of 48 hours. Breeding success did not differ between the species, with young fledging from 32.7% of wattlebi rd nests and 40.9% of friarbird nests. The reproductive strategy of the noi sy friarbird thus differs quantitatively from the apparent norm for other h oneyeaters and many other Australian endemic passerines.