Regulation of Reproductive Cycles of Tropical Spotted Munia and Weaverbird

Abstract

The Spotted munia, Lonohura punctulata, and the weaverbird, Ploceus philippinus, are seasonally breeding nonmigratory birds distributed all over the Indian sub-continent. In nature (Varanasi, 25°18′ N, 83°01′E) the gonads of the Spotted munia begin to develop immediately after the summer solstice, are fully active upto October to November and collapse before the winter solstice (Fig. 1). Gonads of the weaverbird begin to development earlier, in March to April, attain maximal size in June to July and regress therefter (Fig. 2.). It is interesting that these two species occupying similar, and sharing the same food habits and environment should enter breeding cycles at different time, thus, perhaps reflecting synchronization by different environmental factors.