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ORNITOLOGIA NEOTROPICAL 14: 423–429, 2003 © The Neotropical Ornithological Society

FIRST DESCRIPTION OF THE NEST, AND NESTLINGS OF THE WHITE-SHOULDERED (MYRMECIZA MELANOCEPS)

Andrés Link1 & Beatriz Ramírez2

1Cra 11a No. 91-55, apto 202, 6165262, Bogotá, . E-mail: [email protected] 2Cra 36 No.,104-23, 6231232, Bogotá, Colombia. E-mail: [email protected]

Primera descripción del nido del Hormiguero Hombriblanco (Myrmeciza melanoceps). Key words: Nest, Eggs, Nestlings, White-shouldered Antbird, Myrmeciza melanoceps, Colombia.

The nests of many species of (Tham- stems up to 3 m above the ground, where it nophilidae and ) are still unde- sings mostly in the early morning and late scribed or remain poorly known (Skutch afternoon hours. 1996, Wilkinson & Smith 1997). In the On 1 October 2001, we found a nest of Myrmeciza, there is information on the nests The White-shouldered Antbird in the season- of less than half of the 19 species recognized ally flooded forest near the border of a walk- by Monroe & Sibley (1993). Based on obser- ing trail, at the CIEM, in the northwestern vations made in a tropical rain forest in east- Amazon region, between the eastern Andes ern Colombia, we present the first description and the Serranía de la Macarena, in the of the nest, eggs and nestlings of the White- Departamento de Meta, Colombia. The shouldered Antbird (Myrmeciza melanoceps), CIEM is part of Parque Nacional Natural and compare our data on the nest structure, Tinigua and it is located on the right margin size and hatchling periods with informa- of Río Duda about 13 km before it reaches tion reported for other species within the the Río Guayabero (02°40’N, 74°10’W, 350– same genus. 400 m a.s.l.). Mean annual temperature is The White-shouldered Antbird is com- around 26°C and precipitation is highly sea- mon at the Centro de Investigaciones sonal (average 2700 mm/year) with a dry sea- Ecológicas Macarena (hereafter called CIEM) son between December and March, and the in the of seasonally flooded forest. rainy season between April and November. It can also be occasionally found outside There are five basic vegetation types in the the borders of this area in habitats similar CIEM surroundings: mature terra firme for- to what has been recorded by Hilty & est, open terra firme forest, lowland Brown (1986), Ridgely & Tudor (1994) seasonally flooded forest, secondary forest and Skutch (1996). The species is usually and riparian forest. Detailed information on found in pairs or moving alone along thin CIEM vegetation is found in Stevenson et al.

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FIG. 1. Nest of the White-shouldered Antbird (Myrmeciza melanoceps) built on a young Oenocarpus bataua palm (Photographs by Andrés Link).

(1999). To date, 441 species have been The nest of the White-shouldered - reported in the CIEM, and 51 of them are bird was built between the leaf rachises of a antbirds: 47 Thamnophilidae & 4 Formicari- young milpeso palm (Oenocarpus bataua), about idae (Cadena et. al. 2000a). The White-shoul- 90 cm above the ground (Fig. 1). This nest dered Antbird and the Black-throated had the form of a deep cup, but its entrance Antbird (M. atrothorax) are the only species of was partially covered by a thin layer of dead Myrmeciza at CIEM, with the latter being leaves in its top, as that of the Ferruginous- much less abundant. backed Antbird (M. ferruginea) (Tostain et al. The nest was evidenced when the female 1992). The view of the nest interior was thus flushed away as we passed close to it. We obstructed. As a consequence, the chamber observed the nest at least once daily for sev- appeared spherical and was similar to that of eral minutes and checked the presence of eggs the ’s (M. fortis) nest (see or nestlings, and the development of the lat- Wilkinson & Smith 1997). The leaves cover- ter. We also observed if either of the parents ing the nest’s entrance formed a sloped lateral were in the nest or in the vegetation nearby, entrance (see Fig. 2). The nest’s entrance had and any particular behavior that called our an internal diameter of 9 cm and a depth of attention. We measured the eggs with a hand 10 cm (measured from the entrance to the caliper to the nearest 0.1 mm, and the nest deepest part of the nest). The nest was made dimensions were measured with a ruler to the of firmly woven palm fibers, decomposing nearest cm. leaves and dead plant material which made it

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FIG. 2. Four-day olk nestlings of the White-shouldered Antbird (Myrmeciza melanoceps) (Photographs by Andrés Link). very inconspicuous, especially because the ally seen alone inside the nest. Four days after structure was placed among numerous palm hatching, feather sheaths were evident in the fibers located from the ground to the nest, all nestlings’ wings and back (Fig. 2). By day 7, around the palm leaves and the emerging they were almost completely feathered and, by trunk (Fig. 1). day 8, their was very similar to that When found, the nest contained two of the female, but they still had their thick yel- white eggs with irregular purple spots more low bill commissures. On this day, when we concentrated on the blunt end. The eggs mea- approached the nest one of the hatchlings sured 26.1 x 19.2 mm and 26.4 x 18.9 mm. opened its mouth widely and emitted a strong During the next 3 days, both male and female noise. On day 9, they had their eyes partially were seen incubating and the nest was usually opened and tried to hide inside the nest as not found unattended. On 6 October (day 1), soon as they felt the presence of an intruder. we found two completely naked hatchlings On day 10, we found the female taking an with pinkish-gray skin, thick yellow bill com- earthworm to the nest, but she was disturbed missures and eyes closed. Both parents were by our presence and emitted loud calls away usually near the nest and after noting our from the nest. The hatchlings had their eyes presence, they vocalized making short high- completely open and moved slightly in the pitched calls, very different from their usual nest (Fig. 3). On day 11, at 06:00, the nest was vocalizations (Hilty & Brown 1986; A. Link empty and intact. We observed the male and pers. observ.) while they moved away from the another bird (either the female or a juvenile) nest. During the day, the hatchlings were usu- near the nest, and the male was giving alarm

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FIG. 3. Ten-day old nestlings of the White-shouldered Antbird (Myrmeciza melanoceps) (Photographs by Andrés Link). calls, very different from its regular vocaliza- days which is quite similar to that of Sooty tion. The next day, we mist-netted the adult (M. fortis) and Chestnut-backed (M. exsul) ant- female and one of the juveniles near the nest, ( 9–10 days; Wilkinson & Smith 1997, confirming that at least one of them had Skutch 1969), and within the range (9–15 fledged successfully. The juvenile had grow- days) of other antbirds in general (Skutch ing feathers in the wings, and short and very 1996). soft feathers in its head. The rest of the body Generally, Myrmeciza antbirds lay one or was completely feathered. Its commissures two eggs, the latter being the most common were still yellow, but turning orange toward clutch size (Skutch 1996). The eggs of the interior of the mouth. The ocular bare White-shouldered Antbirds are similar to oth- skin was still black and the plumage was simi- ers in the genus, but slightly bigger, i.e., 26 x lar to that of the adult female, but with a 19 mm, compared to 23 x 17 mm for the darker cinnamon back, with some black feath- Swainson’s Antcatcher (M. longipes) and the ers (Fig. 4). Chestnut-backed Antbird (Skutch 1969, Wet- The nest contained two eggs for six days more 1972, Willis & Oniki 1972), but this between its discovery and hatching, which is could be attributed to the bigger size of the very short compared to the 14–16 days White-shouldered Antbird (see Hilty & incubation periods of most thamnophilid ant- Brown 1986). birds (Skutch 1996); so the eggs must have Nests of different species of Myrmeciza been laid some time before we found the vary in shape and placement. Detailed infor- nest. We observed a nestling period of 11 mation on nests is available only for Swain-

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FIG. 4. One fledging of the White-shouldered Antbird (Myrmeciza melanoceps) after leaving the nest (Photo- graphs by Andrés Link). son’s Antcatchers, and Chestnut-backed (M. bowl of plant stems and fibers without exsul), Ferruginous-backed, and Sooty ant- connections between them” (Euler 1900). birds. For Goeldi’s (M. goeldii), Scalloped (M. The nest of the Dull-mantled Antbird is a ruficauda), Squamate (M. squamosa), White- “thin cup, low in Piper sprout on steep gorge” bibbed (M. loricata) and Dull-mantled (M. lae- (Willis 1988). Open-cup nests located on mosticta) antbirds, only brief nesting data are the ground have been described for Goeldi’s available: (Robbins in Wilkinson & Smith 1997), Although there is some variation in size Squamate (Höfling et al. 1986) and Scalloped and compactness, the many described nests of antbirds, although the latter nest structure is the Chestnut-backed Antbird are quite similar: not described (Studer in Collar et al. 1992). they are cup-shaped and placed over low The nest of the has a vegetation, dead palm leaves or debris near cup-shape form “partially sheltered by a large the ground (Skutch 1969, Wetmore 1972, dead leaf cap” constructed on the ground Willis & Oniki 1972). The nests of the Swain- (Tostain et al. 1992, Haverschmidt & Mees son’s Antcatcher are described as “open, 1994). The only nests with different form are shallow saucers” built at 1.2 m and 1.8 m, the spherical chamber nests of the Sooty Ant- over branches supporting them (C. Belcher in bird build on litter mounds in the forest Wetmore 1972). The nest of the White- ground (Wilkinson & Smith 1997; G. Lon- bibbed Antbird is “placed on fallen branches doño unpubl.). and leaves, in the form of a very badly made Nests from phylogenetically related spe-

427 LINK & RAMÍREZ cies tend to be similar to each other and share AKNOWLEDGMENTS a basic theme (Sheldon & Winkler 1999). In general, the nest of the White-shouldered We thank Mort Isler for his help throughout Antbird is similar to those of other Myrmeciza the elaboration of this paper. J. L. Parra, F. G. species. However, it differs in that it is deeper Stiles, D. Cadena and K. Zyskowski and an than the open-cup nests of most Myrmeciza; is unknown referee, carefully reviewed the partially domed with the leaves it has on top, manuscript and made valuable corrections and it is placed almost 1 m above ground. and commentaries. G. de Luna helped us This makes it very similar in form to the nest throughout the field work. We appreciate the of the Ferruginous Antbird, but placed valuable information received from E. over vegetation and not in the ground, Höfling. We were able to work at the CIEM although the palm structure where the nest through the Colombia-Japan agreement with was built could act as a natural litter mound C. Mejía and K. Izawa. W. Weber helped us (Fig. 1), because the palm fibers and dead providing useful literature. leaves around the palm where it was constructed supported the nest. Its construc- REFERENCES tion is in between that of an open cup and that of a spherical chamber, due to the fact Cadena, C. D., M. Alvarez, J. L. Parra, I. Jiménez, that its entrance is partially covered with dead C. A. Mejía, M. Santamaría, A. M. Franco, C. A. leaves. Botero, G. D. Mejía, A. M. Umaña, A. Calixto, The phylogenetic relationships of antbirds J. Aldana, & G. A. Londoño. 2000a. The birds are not well established, and different analytic of CIEM, Tinigua National Park, Colombia: an approaches are being used to try to resolve overview of thirteen years of ornithological taxonomic uncertainties. These include analy- research.. Cotinga 13: 46–54. ses of vocalizations (Isler et al. 1998,1999) Cadena, C. D., G. A. Londoño, & J. L. Parra. behavior (de Queiroz & Wimberger 1993), 2000b. Nesting records of five antbird species and nest characteristics (Zyskowski & Prum from the Colombian Amazon. Wilson Bull. 112: 313–317. 1999). Additional information on nests and Collar, N. J., L. P. Gonzaga, N. Krabbe, A. Mad- breeding biology iis needed in Myrmeciza and rono Nieto, L. G. Naranjo, T. A. Parker III, & antbirds in general to further understand their D. C. Wege. 1992. Threatened birds of the natural history and phylogenetic relationships Americas. International Council for Bird Pres- (see Cadena et al. 2000b). Specifically, more ervation, Cambridge, U.K. information is needed to determine which De Queiroz, A., & P. H. Wimberger. 1993. The nest characters are relatively constant or vari- usefulness of behavior for phylogeny estima- able within a particular species to further tion: Levels of homoplasy in behavioral and understand its natural history and its phyloge- morphological characters. 47: 46–60. netic relationships. Euler, C. 1900. Descrição de ninhos e ovos das Ecological and anatomical approaches to aves do Brasil. Rev. Mus. Paulista (Sao Pãulo) 4: 9–148. resolve taxonomic uncertainties must be Haverschmidt, F., & G. F. Mees. 1994. Birds of back-upped with biogeographic and molecu- Suriname. Vaco, Paramaribo, Surimane. lar information, which are being widely used Hilty, S. L., & W. L. Brown. 1986. A guide to the to understand the phylogenetic relationships birds of Colombia. Princeton Univ. Press, Prin- of many and plant groups, and repre- ceton, New Jersey. sent one effective approach towards the solu- Höfling, E., H. F. Almeida Camargo, & L. Impera- tion of taxonomic uncertainties. triz-Fonseca. 1986. Aves na Mantiqueira. ICI

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Brasil S.A., Sao Paulo, . 1999. Elementos arboreos de los bosques de un Isler, M. L., P. R. Isler, & B. M. Whitney. 1998. Use plano inundable en el Parque Nacional Tinigua, of vocalizations to establish species limit in ant- Colombia. Caldasia 21: 38–49. birds (Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae). Auk Tostain, O., J. L. Dujardin, C. Érard, & J. M. Thiol- 115: 577–590. lay. 1992. Oiseaux de Guyane. Sociéte d'Études Isler, M. L., P. R. Isler, & B. M. Whitney. 1999. Ornithologiques, Brunoy, France. Species limits in antbirds (Passeriformes: Wetmore, A. 1972. The birds of the Republic of Thamnophilidae): the surinamensis . Part 3. Passeriformes: Dendrocolap- complex. Auk 116: 83–96. tidae () to Oxyruncidae (sharp- Monroe, B. L., Jr., & C. G. Sibley. 1993. A world bills). Smithsonian Institution Press, checklist of birds. Yale Univ. Press, New Haven, Washington, D.C. Connecticut. Wilkinson, F. A., & U. R. Smith. 1997. The first Ridgely R., & G. Tudor. 1994. The birds of South nest records of the Sooty Antbird (Myrmeciza America. Volume 2: The Suboscine . fortis) with notes on eggs and nestling develop- Univ. of Texas Press, Austin, Texas. ment. Wilson Bull. 109: 319–324. Sheldon, F. H., & D. W. Winkler. 1999. Nest archi- Willis, E. O., & Y. Oniki. 1972. and nest- tecture and avian systematics. Auk 116: 875– ing behavior of the Chestnut-backed Antbird 877. (Myrmeciza exsul). Condor 74: 87–98. Skutch, A. F. 1969. Life histories of Central Ameri- Willis, E. O. 1988. Behavioral notes, breeding can birds. III. Families Cotingidae, Pipridae, records and range extensions for Colombian Formicariidae, Furnariidae, Dendrocolaptidae birds. Rev. Acad. Colomb. Cienc. 16: 137–150. and Picidae. Pac. Coast Avif., No. 35, Berkeley, Zyskowski, K., & R. O. Prum.1999. Phylogenetic California. analysis of the nest arquitecture of Neotropical Skutch, A. F. 1996. Antbirds and ovenbirds: their ovenbirds (Furnariidae). Auk 116: 891–911. lives and homes. Univ. of Texas Press, Austin, Texas. Stevenson, P. R., M. C. Castellanos, & A. P. Medina. Accepted 12 November 2002.

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