Observations on behaviour and ecology of the spectacled warbler (Sylvia conspicillata Temminck, 1820) breeding at Karacadağ area (Diyarbakir, South-Eastern Turkey)

Overall thirteen nests of Spectacled Warbler (Sylvia conspicillata Temminck, 1820) belonging to the Karacadag (Diyarbakır, South-eastern Turkey) population have been investigated in behavioural and ecological aspects during spring and summer of 2007 and 2008.Birds returned in March from their wintering areas which are unknown yet. Territorial behaviour of males occurs primarily. A typical territory containing the nest was a nearly circular area 10 to 20 m in radius. Territory was marked by singing and by display flights as well. Conflicts between neighbouring males observed turning to fights at territorial boundaries.During the pair formation period, several males can court a single female. Display flights continued also for a short time after pairing.Mating place was surface of somewhat broad and flat stones on the ground. Pair sang and showed a special courtship dance in alternating manner immediately before the copulation act.Nests were exclusively built on dense branches of relatively tall Astragalus gumnifer shrubs, which predominate on the highest areas of Karacadag. All nests in which a breeding proceeded were built by both sexes, although it has been determined that also single males can build nest by oneself. Nest building was performed by both sexes but separately. Male?s contribution overcomes by means of providing nesting material, female gives rather the nest its shape. There was no observation about re-using of old nests.Clutch size was 4.4 in average, and mostly 5. First eggs were laid at the second half of April and during night time. Incubation started on the day last egg was laid. Both partners contributed to incubation. Nests monitored were incubated by female in most of time; male?s relief was contrarily quite irregular and episodic. Thus nests leaved often unattended. Incubation period lasted 13 days. Very possibly, several subsequent incubations were performed in one season.Hatching period lasted two to three days in duration. Nestlings were cared by both parents, and leaved alone in nest from the sixth day of age. While defending the nesting site male shows clear offensive reactions towards the cause of threat, whereas female applies cheating strategies like ?mimic of an injured bird?. Nestling period took ten to twelve days. About the half of the food provided by adults consisted of caterpillars, and more than one fourth of grasshoppers, also of several insects and spiders. Contribution of each parent to the nestling care was nearly corresponding.Taking care of chicks by both of parents outside the nest lasted eight to ten additional days. During this period chicks were moved frequently under the steering of the adults. In one of traced cases, chicks after fifth day of their leaving of nest were exclusively fed by the father.Incubation success (hatching rate) was 70.0%, and breeding success (the rate of fledgling number over the number of incubated eggs) was 50.8% in average. Chick mortality was 23.8%. The only cause of egg and chick loss was predation. Most potential predators were domestic animals such as cats and dogs.