Breeding biology of the Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) in southwestern Spain

The breeding biology of the Little Egret was studied during two seasons in three inland mixed heronries in the south west of Spain in relation to nest height and density. In addition, we compared the reproductive parameters w ith those found by other authors in the western Palearctic. The reproductiv e success did not differ between years whereas the median laying date did. Although comparison between our population and others is difficult because of differences in methodology, we observed that the less productive and ear lier breeding Little Egrets in the Palearctic were in Extremadura. Neither nest height nor the total number of nests nor the number of Little Egret ne sts influenced the reproduction, pointing towards the non-existence of dens ity-dependent effects on the reproduction of this species in Extremadura.