Breeding biology of Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea canariensis on Tenerife, Canary Islands

Abstract

The paper reports on the breeding biology of the endemic subspecies of the Grey Wagtail in a human transformed area (banana plantations) on Tenerife (Canary Islands). Clutch size (3.96 ± 0.6) was lower than in continental zones, probably because of the climatic stability of the islands. Furthermore, the distance from the nest to the nearest water source and the length of the breeding season (late February-June) were greater than in other European populations. Some breeding traits fit the predictions of the so-called insular "syndrome". Possible mechanisms underpinning these differences in breeding traits are discussed.