El verderón común (Carduelis chloris): población nidificante, tamaño de la puesta y éxito reproductor. Un ejemplo de estudios a largo plazo

Abstract

MThis study shows the results of an investigation on the breeding biology of the Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) during 14 breeding seasons (1975-1988) in orange groves located near Sagunto (Valencia, Spain). The breeding season starts during the last days of March and finished in early August (Fig. 1). The clutch-size varíes between 2 and 6 eggs, and the average clutch-size decrease in the second half of breeding season. The lower average clutch-size coincides with the end of breeding season (Table II). Breeding success varíes along the breeding season and presents different pat- terns in relation with different periods of time (Table III). The decrease of breeding success as the breeding season proceeds is a consequence of increased starvation. The breeding population varíes between 3.5 to 19.5 pairs x 10 ha"1 (Fig. 2). Key