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A nest of Orange-throated walking palm Socratea exhorrhiza moved 1 km or more during these Wetmorethraupis (identified as probably this forays. Based on the extensive sterrhopteron species by A. Henderson, New experience of HFG with other Since its discovery7 in 1963, York Botanical Garden, pers. (albeit not closely related) species Orange-throated Tanager comm.). Although we were unable with similar nesting and foraging Wetmorethraupis sterrhopteron to examine it closely, on this or habits to Wetmorethraupis stands as one of the most subsequent visits, it appeared to (i.e., Aphelocoma, Cyanocorax, distinctive and striking new be an open-cup nest, supported Cyanolyca (Corvidae), Sericossypha species to be described in the past from below by the woody rachis (Thraupidae), we believe that half-century. This spectacular of a palm frond, with little or no incubation was underway on tanager is restricted to humid material interwoven with the 16–19 February. On the morning foothill forests in south-east long-bladed leaflets on either side. of 20 February HFG located the Ecuador and northern Peru8,11. The nest was c.1.5 m from the base nest during a period of adult Despite being found in disturbed of the frond and 3 m from its tip. absence. For fear of disrupting as well as intact habitats, its At least externally, it appeared to their behaviour, he observed the limited range has led BirdLife be constructed primarily of twigs adults for four hours (08h00– International1 to consider it and other dead plant material. 12h00) from a vantage point that Vulnerable. As little has been Some twigs bore mosses and permitted approaches to the nest published on its behaviour or lichens, but moss was apparently to be observed, but precluded ecology, and the species’ breeding not an important component of viewing the nest itself. During biology is completely unknown, we the nest’s external architecture. this period the group visited the provide brief observations made The nest was c.20–30 cm in nest area three times, and at least at a nest in extreme south-east external diameter and overhung three approached the nest. Ecuador. by an adjacent frond shading HFG did not observe food-carrying DSW, MH, JM & Xavier Muñoz and concealing it from above. by adults, but visits to the nest discovered the nest on the morning Adults made multiple trips to the were brief (1–3 minutes). While of 30 January 2012 by a dirt nest once every c.3–4 minutes the possibility exists that the road east of the río Nangaritza over a 30-minute period on 30 birds were switching places with, and c.6 km south of the village of January. Once, a bird sang while or provisioning, an incubating Orquídeas, prov. Zamora, Ecuador, carrying either grass or a piece adult, their behaviour strongly at an approximate elevation of of palm frond to the nest. When suggests that they were feeding 1,000 m. The nest was located HFG examined the presumably young. Food items may have in disturbed tropical broadleaf completed nest on a subsequent been too small to detect or were forest, and we observed active visit, he could detect no such perhaps regurgitated. On 21 logging nearby. Canopy height was material from below, suggesting February HFG videotaped the nest c.15–20 m with just a few larger that grass-like materials may form at 06h00–13h00. The recording trees, i.e., Ocotea sp. (Lauraceae), the nest lining. revealed that the nest was not Ficus sp. (Moraceae) emerging HFG & R. A. Gelis visited the visited during this period, but above younger trees including locality on 16 February–9 March, adults were detected in the vicinity many second-growth colonisers and spent 4–6 hours each day in twice (by their vocalisations). such as Inga (Mimosaceae) and the nest’s vicinity. During the first Until 28 February Cecropia spp. (Cecropiaceae). Most four days, they detected tanagers were detected just four times in of the understorey vegetation in only periodically, with the entire the forest around the nest. It is the forest around the nest had group of 4–5 adults moving noisily probable that the nest was empty been cleared. In general, habitat through the canopy around the at this time, almost certainly due in the region is highly fragmented, nest. Unfortunately, they had to depredation given that <3 weeks and the forest surrounding the not yet relocated the nest itself had elapsed from construction nest was c.10 ha. and did not observe any activity to feeding. It follows that, if our While observing three adult- therein. However, they observed interpretation of adult behaviour plumaged Wetmorethraupis no adults carrying food or nest is correct, the incubation period is moving through the canopy of material. As the terrain is very c.18–20 days. the forest fragment from a dirt steep, the group was only detected On the morning of 22 February, road, we noted that they were >300 m from the nest on several at 0915 h, HFG observed a large repeatedly visiting a particular occasions (moving to or from the flock of Russet-backed Oropendolas site within a palm tree and further nest). Therefore, based on the ease Psarocolius angustifrons and observations using binoculars and with which this species is detected Yellow-rumped Caciques Cacicus telescope revealed that at least two by its loud vocalisations, we cela foraging in the canopy and birds were constructing a nest. consider that most of the periods subcanopy near the nest. Two The nest was c.10 m above of absence were spent in forest oropendolas visited the nest, but the steeply sloping ground, fragments other than that of the flew off after just 3–4 seconds in the uppermost fronds of a nest, and that the adults may have with empty bills. Just as most

51 Cotinga 36 Short Communications of the flock had passed, five spp. tanagers9,14,15, the putative 6. Isler, M. L. & Isler, P. R. Wetmorethraupis arrived and relatives of Sericossypha5,12, are (1999) Tanagers. Second edn. vocalised loudly from nearby markedly dissimilar to those of London, UK: Christopher perches. None of the tanagers Orange-throated and White-capped Helm. approached the nest or otherwise Tanagers. As both latter species 7. Lowery, G. H. & O’Neill, J. acted aggressively towards the are infrequently included in P. (1964) A new and icterids, but all five continued phylogenetic analyses, their true species of tanager from Peru. to vocalise as they left with the affinities are unclear2,12. It remains Auk 81: 125–131. rapidly moving flock. It is possible to be seen if they are more closely 8. Marín A., M., Carrión B., J. that this same flock of icterids, related than currently believed, or M. & Sibley, F. C. (1992) which frequented the area during if the similarities above represent New distributional records our visits, was responsible for convergent evolution. for Ecuadorian birds. Orn. depredating the tanagers’ nest. Neotrop. 3: 27–34. HFG made final observations at Acknowledgements 9. Renaudier, A., Ingels, J. & the nest on 7 March. At 07h45 he We thank Xavier Muñoz and Hilty, S. L. (2008) Nesting heard vocalisations in the vicinity. Neblina Forest tours for taking and general behaviour of On his arrival he observed four the first three authors to this area. Hooded Tanager Nemosia birds, one of them 15 m from the HFG thanks Rudy A. Gelis for help pileata in French Guiana and nest with a 10–15 cm twig in in the field and Matt Kaplan, John Surinam. Cotinga 30: 54–56. its bill. However, all four moved V. Moore and Field Guides Inc. 10. Robbins, M. B. & Glenn, G. quickly from view through the for supporting his field work and S. (1988). First description forest canopy, still vocalising, until the staff of Yankuam Lodge for of the nest and eggs of they were no longer detectable their hospitality in the Nangaritza the Moss-backed Tanager when >150 m from the nest. It is Valley. (Buthraupis [Bangsia] probable the adults were removing edwardsi). Condor 90: material from the old nest in References 947–948. preparing to re-nest at a new site. 11. Schulenberg, T. S., Stotz, D. 1. BirdLife International Our observations strongly F., Lane, D. F., O’Neill, J. (2013) Species factsheet: suggest that Wetmorethraupis is a P. & Parker, T. A. (2007) Orange-throated Tanager cooperative breeder, a trait shared Birds of Peru. Princeton, NJ: Wetmorethraupis with numerous other genera of Princeton University Press. sterrhopteron. www.birdlife. Thraupidae5. Molecular data 12. Sedano, R. E. & Burns, org. (accessed 23 September indicate that Wetmorethraupis K. J. (2010) Are the 2013). is closely related to Bangsia12 for northern Andes a species 2. Burns, K. J. (1997) Molecular which all described nests have pump for Neotropical systematics of tanagers been mossy domes constructed in birds? Phylogenetics and (Thraupinae): evolution and epiphyte clumps or supported by biogeography of a clade of biogeography of a diverse small branches3,6,10,13. Although Neotropical tanagers (Aves: radiation of Neotropical we could not closely examine Thraupini). J. Biogeogr. 37: birds. Mol. Phyl. & Evol. 8: the nest of Wetmorethraupis, 325–343. 334–348. it appears in almost every 13. Stiles, F. G. (1998) Notes on 3. Freeman, B. G. & Arango, respect quite dissimilar to those the biology of two threatened J. A. (2010) The nest of of the species’ putative closest species of Bangsia tanagers the Gold-ringed Tanager relatives. However, the nest in northwestern Colombia. (Bangsia aureocincta), a and behaviour we describe are Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 118: Colombian endemic. Orn. largely similar to those of White- 25–31. Colombiana 9: 71–75. capped Tanager Sericossypha 14. Venturini, A. C., de Paz, P. R. 4. Greeney, H. F., Simbaña, albocristata, another large, & Kirwan, G. M. (2002) First J., Sheldon, K. S., Craik, monotypic tanager of uncertain breeding data for Cherry- A. & Jonsson, R. (2007) taxonomic affinities5. Both are throated Tanager Nemosia Observations on the nesting large canopy dwellers, both travel rourei. Cotinga 17: 42–45. and diet of the White-capped in (frequently) monospecific 15. Venturini, A. C., de Paz, P. Tanager (Sericossypha flocks, and both vocalise loudly R. & Kirwan, G. M. (2005) albocristata) in eastern and frequently, and often move A new locality and records Ecuador. Orn. Neotrop. 18: over long distances. Though the of Cherry-throated Tanager 139–142. only description of a Sericossypha Nemosia rourei in Espírito 5. Hilty, S. L. (2011) Family nest also lacks details4, its Santo, south-east Brazil, Thraupidae (tanagers). architecture (bulky, loose-stick, with fresh natural history In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, open cup) and placement (atop a data for the species. Cotinga A. & Christie, D. A. (eds.) broad substrate) are apparently 24: 60–70. Handbook of the birds of the similar to Wetmorethraupis. world, 16. Barcelona: Lynx Interestingly, the nests of Nemosia Edicions.

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John Morrison David S. Wilcove Harold F. Greeney World Wildlife Fund, 289 Paradise Woodrow Wilson School of Public Yanayacu Biological Station & Circle, Morgantown, WV 26508, and International Affairs and Center for Creative Studies, km USA. Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary 5, Via Las Caucheras, Cosanga, Biology, Princeton University, Napo, Ecuador. Mace Hack Princeton, NJ 08544, USA. The Nature Conservancy, 1007 Received 19 March 2013; final Leavenworth Street, Omaha, NE revision accepted 16 October 2013; 68102, USA. published online 10 March 2014

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