Reproductive phenology and nestling diet of African Blue Tit Cyanistes teneriffae

In this study, we investigated the reproductive phenology of Blue Tit (Cyanistes teneriffae) in a lowland Cork Oak (Quercus suber) of North-eastern Algeria. We analysed the diet of this species and the taxonomic characterization of prey and their water content. Nest boxes were installed on trees in late February and early March, at 2 meters above the ground and separated by 35-40 m. They were visited once a week from March 15 until July 15, noting the date, the timing and magnitude of spawning, the average number of chicks flown per nest and nest thickness. The diet was studied at different times of the season, harvesting of prey was carried out by the technique of laying collar in all chicks aged 5 to 9 days, and those two early season broods aged 12 days. The results showed that mean laying date is April 29, mean clutch size was 6.6 eggs per female, height of the nest positively related to laying date and number of fledged young. The average number of fledged chicks per nest is 4.5 and decreases during the season. The diet consists mainly of Lepidoptera larvae, but it is quite diverse with 33 species including 21 belonging to Lepidoptera, 6 to Orthoptera and three species of Arachnids. The rest of the diet consists of a species of Phasmid, Dictyoptera and Hymenoptera. Two peaks of food abundance were observed respectively in April 25-27 and May 1-4, and are diverse with respect to diet-season, consisting of adults and egg pockets. The amount of water in prey decreased during the season. The frequency of feeding of the chicks was higher at the age of 9 days than 15 days.