Breeding Performance of Red-Vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) in Sikar Region (Rajasthan), India

Breeding performance of the Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) was studied in Sikar region, Rajasthan state during March, 2010 to October, 2011. The population of P. cafer was more observed in human habitat region than the non-human habitat region of the study area. Red-vented Bulbul is a common breeder bird in this region. During study period total 28 nests were observed. Breeding period was observed March to October in 2010 and 2011. P. cafer prefers small, leafy and dense bushes for the nesting. It prefers different plant species as a nesting site. It is found that the hatching success was 50 %, nestling success was 36 % and nesting success was 18 %. It is found that in this region the breeding performance of the Red-vented Bulbul was low. Reasons for the low breeding performance are due to predation, food availability, starvation and desert environmental conditions.