Diet and Biology of Square-tailed Kites Lophoictinia isura Breeding in South-eastern Queensland: Nest-building to Post-fledging

A complete breeding cycle, from nest-building to successful fledging of a single young, is described for a pair of Square-tailed Kites Lophoictinia isura in southern coastal Queensland, based on 234 hours of observation over 168 days between 16 July and 30 December 1999. Previously undescribed behaviour, including foliage-bathing by the female and juvenile, and an aerial display or play between the male and juvenile, is documented. Nest-building took 26±3 days, incubation 34+ days, and the nestling period 60 days. Prey-delivery rates were: incubation phase 0.2 delivery/hr; nestlil}g phase 0.6/hr; and post-fledging phase 0.2/hr (0.3/hr in the first half, 0.1/hr in the second halt). The single fledgling spent 37 days in the immediate vicinity of the nest. The Kites' diet, by number, consisted of small birds (mostly nestlings or fledglings, 46%), birds' eggs (30%), small mammals (1%), insects (mostly grasshoppers, beetles and cicadas, 18%), and snails (4%) (total of 120 pellets, of which 98% contained feathers and/or eggshell) . Some new prey items, including adult lorikeets Trichoglossus, were recorded.