Study On Breeding Ecology And Moult Of Prinia Inornata

The Plain Prinia ( Prinia inornata) belong to Cisticolidae Passeriformes. It is one of the species whose tail in breeding season is shorter than nonbreediing season , which is different from the species which get exaggerate long tails for the result of sexual selection and natural selection. It's very important to study on it for the meaning of the bird survival and breeding. For this reason, we studied the moult and breeding ecology at the Jiangxi village Guangdong province from Dec 2005 to June 2007.The length of the body and tail of breeding season was highly significant (P<0.01) shorter than nonbreeding season, the length of wing was significant shorter (P<0.05 ) . Plain Prinia start competite for mate at the beginning of the Mar and nest at the last ten days afterr. The birds worked together for 4-5 days for nest which mainly on the plant of Poaceae. Nest site selection determined by five characters which are distance from ground(42.58%), height of nest plant(16.55%, average height of nest area plant (10.83%),average of grass (9.57%), height from water level(7.01%) , direction (9.08%) and cover of nest area(8.51%). The clutch size was 4-6 and incubation lasts 8-10 days. The parent birds could regulate the time spented on the incubation according to the clutch size. The more eggs the more time parents spented. The success of the nest was 43.75%, mainly reason of the disturbance of the environment.Plain Prinia undergo twice complete moult each year. Autumn moult is slow moult which last about 100-120days, and spring moult is fast moult, which last about 80-90days. The curve regression of the P6 is Y=3.21X -4.07-0.06X~2, and the S7 is Y=2.87X -3.56-0.06X~2, the T5 is Y=9.40lnX-2.87.The spring moult is uncomplete moult, only tail was changed.Prey behavior is the main behavior during unbreeding season, and breeding behavior is most in breeding season. The plant and environment factors is correlate with the change of feather, the change of tails is highly significant correlate with weight of insects and grass height, significant correlate with average grass height. The change of body is highly significant correlate with weight of insects, significant correlate with grass height. Both change of tails and body are highly significant correlate with average air press, average air temperature, average wet degree and average rain, and change of wings is highly significant correlate with average air pressand average temperature, significant with rain. But there is no evidence to prove the factors cause the change of feathers, and study still need further work.