INTER-LOCALITY VARIATION IN BREEDING PHENOLOGY AND NESTING HABITAT OF THE CITRIL FINCH CARDUELIS CITRINELLA IN THE CATALONIAN PRE-PYRENEES

SUMMARY.—Inter-locality variation in breeding phenology and nesting habitat of the citril finch Car-duelis citrinella in the Catalonian Pre-Pyrenees. Aims: Considerable variations have been found amongst several citril finch sub-populations at Port del Comte mountain in the Catalonian Pre-Pyrenees in reproductive success, body mass, fat score, diet, sur-vival rate and speed of moult due to different habitat quality and different slope exposition. In line with these studies, the aim of this study was to investigate variations in breeding phenology and nesting habi-tat between north-facing high quality areas (Vansa) and south-facing low quality areas (Bofia) as well as east-facing areas of intermediate quality (Port Comte / Sucre). Since the species habitat requirements have been little studied before, another aim of this study was the recording of some basic data on the phenolo-gy of this species and its nesting habitat in Spain. Location: The slopes of Port del Comte mountain (Catalonian Pre-Pyrenees). Results and Conclusions: As expected, variations were found in breeding phenology and nesting habi-tat. Birds on the moister and cooler north-and east-facing slopes (Vansa, Port Comte) started breeding ear-lier than did birds from the drier and sunnier south-facing slopes (Bofia). All nests at the slightly more elevated locality of Bofia were built in mountain pines Pinus mugo, while at the other two study sites