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Nest site use and breeding ecology of white-tailed stonechat (Saxicola leucurus) in Pakistan.

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Title: Nest site use and breeding ecology of white-tailed stonechat (Saxicola leucurus) in Pakistan.
Authors: Sadam A; Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Wildlife Survey, Monitoring and Ecological Restoration, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China., Awais M; Department of Zoology, Islamia College University, Peshawar, Pakistan., Hu Y; Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Wildlife Survey, Monitoring and Ecological Restoration, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China., Dongmei Y; Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Wildlife Survey, Monitoring and Ecological Restoration, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China., Hu H; Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Wildlife Survey, Monitoring and Ecological Restoration, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China. 13570909977@139.com.
Source: Scientific reports [Sci Rep] 2025 Nov 18; Vol. 15 (1), pp. 40443. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Nov 18.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Nature Publishing Group Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101563288 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2045-2322 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 20452322 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Sci Rep Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: London : Nature Publishing Group, copyright 2011-
MeSH Terms: Nesting Behavior*/physiology , Reproduction*/physiology , Passeriformes*/physiology, Animals ; Pakistan ; Ecosystem ; Breeding ; Clutch Size
Abstract: Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Institution review board statement: The research did not need ethical committee approval, as it did not involve any live birds in captivity or under experimental conditions. We conducted a passive observational study and found no injured birds during our study.
The white-tailed stonechat (Saxicola leucurus) is a near-threatened, habitat-sensitive grassland passerine largely restricted to South Asia, where its populations are declining due to habitat degradation, agricultural encroachment, and climate change. We studied the species' breeding biology and nest-site use during the 2020 breeding seasons across two farmland regions in northwestern Pakistan: Mardan and Bajaur. A total of 53 (44 active) nests were monitored for clutch size, hatching and fledging success, and nest architecture. Clutch size and number of fledglings were significantly greater in nests that were in natural depression sites than those in other sites. We detected a trade-off between nest construction and investment in reproduction, with smaller clutches found for nests with an external diameter greater than 6 cm. Although nest site use and construction differed between the two regions, with nests in Bajaur generally being smaller in outer and inner diameter and placed lower to the ground compared to those in Mardan, overall breeding success was not significantly different. Our results illustrate the significance of microhabitat elements on reproductive success, portraying how specific nest-site attributes may act as cues to habitat quality. These findings highlight the importance of conserving S. leucurus and maintaining resilient grassland bird communities amid increasing agricultural transformation.
(© 2025. The Author(s).)
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Grant Information: 2021A1515110744 Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province; 2024B1212040009 Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province, China; GZSWKJ2022 008 Guangzhou Water Science and Technology Project
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: Breeding ecology; Clutch size; Nest height; Nest outer diameter; Nest sites
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20251118 Date Completed: 20251118 Latest Revision: 20251121
Update Code: 20251121
PubMed Central ID: PMC12627539
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-24169-3
PMID: 41253909
Database: MEDLINE
Description
Abstract:Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Institution review board statement: The research did not need ethical committee approval, as it did not involve any live birds in captivity or under experimental conditions. We conducted a passive observational study and found no injured birds during our study.<br />The white-tailed stonechat (Saxicola leucurus) is a near-threatened, habitat-sensitive grassland passerine largely restricted to South Asia, where its populations are declining due to habitat degradation, agricultural encroachment, and climate change. We studied the species' breeding biology and nest-site use during the 2020 breeding seasons across two farmland regions in northwestern Pakistan: Mardan and Bajaur. A total of 53 (44 active) nests were monitored for clutch size, hatching and fledging success, and nest architecture. Clutch size and number of fledglings were significantly greater in nests that were in natural depression sites than those in other sites. We detected a trade-off between nest construction and investment in reproduction, with smaller clutches found for nests with an external diameter greater than 6 cm. Although nest site use and construction differed between the two regions, with nests in Bajaur generally being smaller in outer and inner diameter and placed lower to the ground compared to those in Mardan, overall breeding success was not significantly different. Our results illustrate the significance of microhabitat elements on reproductive success, portraying how specific nest-site attributes may act as cues to habitat quality. These findings highlight the importance of conserving S. leucurus and maintaining resilient grassland bird communities amid increasing agricultural transformation.<br /> (© 2025. The Author(s).)
ISSN:2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-24169-3