Table 1.
A comparison of rates of extra-pair paternity, and attributes of life-history, ecology and breeding biology in four Malurus species for which rates of extra-pair paternity are known.
| M. coronatus | M. cyaneus | M. splendens | M. melanocephalus | |
| Extra-pair paternity | ||||
| % Broods containing EP offspring | 5.8 | 83 – 95 | 55, 83 | 75, 63 |
| % EP offspring | 4.4 | 66 – 81 | 42, 73 | 56, 51 |
| % Offspring sired by within-group subordinate | 1.8 | 5 | 5, 8 | some |
| General biology | ||||
| Number of helpers | 1.3 | 0.9 | 0.6, 1.1 | 0.4 |
| Number of male helpers | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.3, 0.6 | 0.4 |
| Clutch size | 3.0 | 3.2 | 2.9 | 2.8 |
| Annual max # successful broods | 2 | 3 | 2 | > 1 |
| % Annual pair-divorce | 6.0 | 4.2 | 2.9 | low |
| % Annual adult survival (male, female) | 81, 81 | 75, 53; 67, 70 | 70, 59 | |
| % Incestuous pairings | 16.4 | 15 | 21.3 | |
| Provisioning rate of males without helpers (feeds/h) | 6.2 | 5.8, 6.4 | ||
| Months breeding | All, 1–2 peak(s) | Aug–Feb | Aug–Jan | Oct–Feb |
| Average breeding synchrony (max) | 11.5 (28.2) | 18.1 (29.8) | ||
| Territory linearly arranged | Yes | No | No | No |
| Territory length in m | 156 | 87 | 234, 237 | 262 |