Ornitología Neotropical (E-Journal)
Not a member yet
359 research outputs found
Sort by
EARLY NEST RECORD AND ADDITIONAL NOTES ON THE BREEDING BIOLOGY OF THE CHESTNUT-CAPPED BRUSH-FINCH (ARREMON BRUNNEINUCHA SUTTONI) IN SOUTHERN MEXICO
Get PDFThe natural history and breeding biology of species in the genus Arremon (Passerellidae) remains incomplete. Here, we document an early nest record and provide additional notes on the breeding biology of the Chestnut-capped Brush-finch (Arremon brunneinucha suttoni) from the Sierra Madre del Sur in southern Mexico. We found one bulky, open cup nest with two pale blue eggs. The nest was found greater than one month prior to previous nest descriptions, suggesting a possible shift in breeding phenology. Future studies across the range of A. brunneinucha will help clarify our findings within the context of geographic variation in this species and possible causes
RESPONSES OF POTENTIAL HOST SPECIES TO SIMULATED BRONZED COWBIRD PARASITISM AT TWO SITES IN COSTA RICA
No full textTo assign responses of acceptance and rejection of potential hosts to parasitism by the Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus), in Costa Rica, 110 egg manipulations were performed at nests of 17 species, from which 10 responses, by three species, were scored as ejections (Pitangus sulphuratus, Cyclarhis juganensis, Turdus grayi) and nests were deserted by three species (Zonotrichia capensis, Arremenops conirostris, Piranga bidentata). None of the artificial eggs removed from nests at which they were accepted exhibited peck marks that would indicate attempted ejection. Additional experiments are necessary to determine whether mixed responses of acceptance and rejection by individuals of the same species is more common in tropical environments
CITIZEN SCIENCE EXPERIENCES OF SURVEYING URBAN BIRDS DURING THE ANTHROPAUSE IN COLOMBIA
No full textThe COVID-19 lockdowns produced a singular opportunity to perform scientific research in idle cities. The expected changes in urban ecology led us to form a citizen science community which, following standardized protocols, conducted well-structured surveys of birds across Colombia to test questions about urban bird assemblages that had not yet been addressed. Here, we report the process and experience of this citizen science initiative, conducted between March 30 and June 30, 2020, and discuss recommendations to apply to future projects with similar goals. The volunteer-based survey that we organized began with 93 collaborators in 40 urban centers, but ended with just 45 collaborators from 22 urban centers. Some issues that probably explain the drop in collaborators are commented on. This citizen science exercise was successful, gathering over 75,000 bird records of at least 250 bird species
A REVIEW OF “ANTI-PREDATOR DISTRACTION” DISPLAY BEHAVIOR OF BIRDS OF THE FAMILY CONOPOPHAGIDAE, WITH THE FIRST PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION FOR THE RUFOUS GNATEATER (CONOPOPHAGA LINEATA)
No full text“Anti-predator distraction” display behavior is well known for birds of the families Charadriidae and Scolopacidae, but it is also performed by Neotropical forest birds of the family Conopophagidae. Nevertheless, this information is rarely mentioned in compilations on the subject and in reference works. Thus, in order to make such information available, we present a compilation of published data and a documented field record of “anti-predator distraction” display behavior for the family Conopophagidae. Data were obtained through bibliographical research and searches in online ornithological data platforms. We found 12 studies with reports of this behavior for the family Conopophagidae, all of which were for the genus Conopophaga. The field record was obtained in a natural area located near the city of São Paulo in Southeast Brazil. An adult male Rufous Gnateater, Conopophaga lineata, was observed and documented performing a “broken-wing” display behavior to protect a young hatchling. The performance of “anti-predator distraction” by most species of the genus Conopophaga may be associated with high rates of nest or fledgling predation, or even be an inheritance from already extinct ancestral groups. Even though it is an apparently common behavior for this genus, there is still no specific study on “anti-predator distraction” display behavior of Neotropical forest birds, which represents a significant information gap. It is important to better understand this type of behavior and protect the natural areas were these birds of the family Conopophagidae occur
HUMMINGBIRD FRUGIVORY IN A COSTA RICAN CLOUD FOREST
Get PDFFour species of hummingbirds Ppurple-crowned Fairy, Heliothryx barroti; Stripe-tailed Hummingbird, Eupherusa eximia; White-tailed Emerald, Elvira chionura; and White-throated Mountain-gem, Lampornis castaneoventris) were observed feeding on the fruits of the tree Saurauia montana (Actinidiaceae) in secondary cloud forest in the Talamanca mountains of Costa Rica. These fruits are small (1 cm) berries with mucilaginous pulp; feeding occurred via repeated puncture of the epicarp. This is the first record of frugivory in any of these hummingbird species and one of the few records of hummingbird frugivory on plants other than Cactaceae
NIDIFICACIÓN DE AVES EN BARRANCOS DE BORDE DE CAMINO EN EL BOSQUE TEMPLADO DEL SUR DE CHILE
Get PDFAunque la ecología reproductiva de varias especies de aves que utilizan cavidades en árboles ha sido estudiada, el uso de los ba-rrancos de bordes de camino ha recibido menos atención. Aquí presentamos información sobre 38 nidos que fueron localizados en 19 cavi-dades en barrancos de bordes de camino, donde nidificaron nueve especies de aves que habitan los bosques templados del sur de Chile. Realizamos una descripción de las características de las cavidades ocupadas, el tamaño de puesta y el éxito de la nidada. Las características de las cavidades (cm) se relacionaron de forma proporcional con las medidas corporales de las especies (cm) que utilizaron los barrancos para nidificar. El diámetro de entrada horizontal, junto con la profundidad horizontal, mostraron una relación positiva con la longitud de cuerpo, y la masa corporal mostró una relación positiva con la profundidad horizontal de las cavidades utilizadas para nidificar. El tamaño de puesta promedio para seis especies fue 2,3 (± 0,4) huevos y el 48% de los nidos fueron exitosos. Nuestros registros aportan nuevos conoci-mientos sobre la historia de vida de estas especies y discutimos la potencial importancia de los barrancos de bordes de camino como hábitat reproductivo en los ecosistemas templados del sur
TRANSIENT SWAINSON’S THRUSH (CATHARUS USTULATUS) WINTERING IN THE ANDEAN FOOTHILLS OF ECUADOR ARE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY YOUNG MALES
Get PDFWe know relatively little about the non-breeding period of most migratory birds. Decades of research on Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) has focused on their breeding ecology, whereas their non-breeding ecology is limited to broad patterns of distribution and migratory stop-over ecology. For the nearly 50 years, the US Breeding Bird Survey recorded declines of 0.7% per year for the Russet-backed Swainson’s Thrush (C. u. swainsonii) subspecies, which spends the non-breeding period in South America. However, there is an insufficient understanding of the constraints across their annual cycle to determine reasons for the sustained decline. In 2013 and 2014, we examined their little studied non-breeding period on the Andean slopes of Ecuador where prior experience showed that they were seasonally abundant. Here rapid deforestation threatens primary forest. We used point counts and radio telemetry to evaluate whether primary forest was used preferentially to recently regenerated second-growth forest. From point counts, 76% of detections and almost all captured individuals occurred in secondary forest. Of 86 birds captured in mist nets, 85 were males and 83 young of the year, indicating a highly skewed ratio in favor of young males. Radio telemetry demonstrated preference for secondary forest, especially for fruiting Cecropia spp. trees, with no apparent territorial behavior by those tracked and with short residency times. A marked decrease in density over the course of the field season suggests an itinerant population possibly tracking the ephemeral use of fruit resources. Alternatively, these temporal and spatial patterns could suggest that this population undergoes a mid-winter intratropical migration or at least landscape-level movements. However, we observed thrushes throughout our extended sampling period suggesting transiency with high turnover. Together, this study documents demographic separation during the non-breeding period with preference for of secondary forest and high transiency, important findings in informing management across the annual cycle
PREFORMATIVE MOLT EXTENT AND AGING AND SEXING CRITERIA FOR EIGHT HUMMINGBIRD SPECIES IN SOUTHEASTERN PERU
Get PDFLittle attention has been paid to molt and age criteria in hummingbirds despite the importance of molt and age to numerous behavioral and ecological questions. We examined age-based molt patterns and bill corrugations in eight species of lowland Amazonian hummingbirds. Molt strategies and rates of bill smoothing were similar to those of more well-studied North American species, with all species showing partial preformative molts (replacing only body feathers and some wing coverts and retaining all remiges and rectrices), and bill corrugations reducing to less than 10% of bill length in all species during the first annual cycle. Several species showed evidence of delayed maturation in males in regard to plumage characteristics or bill coloration
FIRST DESCRIPTION OF THE NEST, EGGS AND NESTLINGS OF BLACK-THIGHED PUFFLEG (ERIOCNEMIS DERBYI)
No full textThe Black-thighed Puffleg (Eriocnemis derbyi) is endemic to the Northern Central Andes of South America. The species is found in montane forests up to the edge of the treeline from the Central Andes of Colombia to the Andes of northern Ecuador. The reproductive biology of this species is essentially unknown. Here, we describe the nest, eggs and nestlings of E. derbyi. The nest was built atop a fern frond in a dense strip of riparian vegetation, with a heavy load of moss and bromeliads, near a creek, next to a rocky wall. It was cup-shaped and made mainly with moss. The nest contained two white eggs, both of which hatched but were later found dead without traces of depredation. This report provides the first detailed data on the breeding biology of E. derbyi
THE DIET OF THE TUCÚQUERE (BUBO VIRGINIANUS MAGELLANICUS) IN ANDEAN CENTRAL CHILE
No full textThe tucúquere (Bubo virginianus magellanicus) is a bird of prey with an agro-ecological and environmental relevance in Chile. However, there is a gap about the composition of the diet of B. v. magellanicus in mountainous regions of central Chile, where interaction with the human population is large and anthropic derived habitat changes are increasing. Ninety-one regurgitated pellets from two birds were collected. Analysis of pellet weight, length and width and prey characterisation to the species level, absolute and relative abundance were obtained. Trophic niche (Levin Shannon-Wiener and Smith index) were calculated. The average weight, length and width of pellets were 9.84 g, 5.67 cm and 3.26 mm, respectively. A consumption of 12 different species of prey was evidenced, being the most consumed Lepus capensis (23.53%), followed by Abrocoma bennetti (20.59%) and then other species of small rodents, and an undetermined bird and insect. The trophic niche amplitude for normal and standardised Levin, normal and standardised Shannon-Wiener and Smith (TF) indexes were 6.72, 0.52, 2.11, 0.85 and 0.90, respectively. This is the first evidence of a diet based mainly on Lepus capensis in central Chile for B. v. magellanicus, who seems to be a more generalist predator than previous studies. The results are of significance for the understanding of feeding habits and conservation efforts for raptor species in Chile and South America