Notes on biometrics, breeding and territory size of Bristled Grassbird Schoenicola striatus

The globally Vulnerable Bristled Grassbird Schoenicola striatus, which inhabits tall wet grassland in the Indo-Gangetic Plain, is facing habitat loss and population decline. We explored morphological differences between the sexes, breeding behaviour and territory characteristics in Bristled Grassbirds inhabiting floodplain grasslands of Bangladesh. Males were significantly larger than females in wing length, tail length and body weight. Actively breeding males showed a black gape and black bill flange in contrast to females and non-breeders. Males defended their nesting territory, while females exclusively undertook all other breeding responsibilities, including incubation and provisioning of young. Three solitary male territories in Saccharum sp. beds and two territories occupied by nesting pairs were all considerably less than 1 ha. Greater areas of tall Saccharum sp. grass with pockets of scrubland and open land provide suitable nesting habitat. Protection of preferred breeding habitats could help restore the threatened Bristled Grassbird population.