|
|
|
|
The
'Auku'u's breeding season is from May through
June. During the mating season, the male becomes
aggressive and performs a snap display to
attract the female. They do this by walking
around in a crouched position with its head
lowered, snapping their mandible, either the
upper or lower part of the bill, or by grasping
a twig. After the snap display, the
advertisement display follows. It is sometimes
called the stretch, snap-hiss , or song and
dance display. The male stretches his neck out
and bobs his head. When his head is level with
his feet, he makes a snap-hiss sound.
Twig-shaking and showing off may take place
between songs. This show causes other males to
show off and display also .
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At
first, the females that come near the displaying
male are rejected, but soon a female is allowed
to enter his territory. The displaying is
successful if the male tracks the female to his
nest sight. During mating season, the legs of
both sexes turn from red to pinkish color.
Mating begins the first or second day after the
pair is formed, usually on or near the nest.
|
|
|
|
|
The
'Auku'u nest in colonies and produce one brood.
Their nest is built near the trunk of a tree.
Sometimes they nest in the fork of branches
either in the open, or deep in low branches and
reed beds. The male does a twig ceremony and
gradually changes to nest building. The male
presents the female with twigs which she works
into a platform lined with roots and grass,
Sometimes they just rebuild from an old
nest.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
eggs are laid 2 days at a time beginning 4 or 5
days after the 'Auku'u finds a mate. A clutch of
3 to 5 eggs are common. Both parents share in
the incubation, which lasts from 24 to 26 days.
On the first day the eggs are green, then they
become pale blue or greenish. Young chicks are
brown with white streaks on their underside. The
chicks have yellow eyes.
|
|
BACK
TO 'AUKU'U
|
