J. Field Ornithol., 60(1):86-88

LOW ELEVATION RECORD FOR RESPLENDENT IN COSTA RICA

BETTE A. LOISELLE 1 Departmentof Zoology Universityof Wisconsin Madison, Wisconsin53706 USA

JoH• G. BLAKE Natural Resources Research Institute Universityof Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota 55811 USA

TIMOTHY C. MOERMONDAND DOUGLASJ. MASON Departmentof Zoology Universityof Wisconsin Madison, Wisconsin53706 USA

Abstract.--We observedfive ResplendentQuetzals ( mocinno) in premontane rain forestat 1060 m in Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo, Costa Rica, between31 Dec. 1986 and 7 Jan. 1987, but saw none in lower montane rain forest at 1500 m. We saw one at 1500 m on 20 Feb. 1987, but did not recordany at 1060 m. These observations representthe lowestsight recordsof quetzalsin Costa Rica and confirm the occurrenceof altitudinal migration by this . REGISTRODE BAJAELEVACION PARA PHAROMACHRUS MOCINNO EN COSTA RICA

Resumen.--De diciembre 31, 1986 a enero 7, 1987 observamosa 1060 m de altura cinco quetzales(Pharomachrus mocinno) en el bosquepluvial premontanodel ParqueNacional Braulio Carrillo, aunque no observamosaves en el bosquemontano a 1500 m. El 20 de febrerode 1987 observamosun quetzala 1500 m de altura, aunqueno observamosninguno a 1060 m. Estasobservaciones representan la altura mils baja a que hayan sidoobservados quetzalesen CostaRica y confirmanpatrones de migraci6naltitudinal en estaespecie. ResplendentQuetzals (Pharomachrusmocinno) occur from southern Mexico to westernPanama (Ridgely 1976). The northern race (P. mo- cinnomocinno) has beenreported as low as 1000 m in (Land 1970), but not below 1300 m in Honduras (Monroe 1968). In Costa Rica, quetzals (P. mocir•nocostaricer•sis) are found in montane forests from 1500 m to 5000 m, with the centerof their altitudinal range from 1500 m to 2500 m (La Bastille 1983). Quetzals reportedly disappear from their breedinggrounds in Costa Rica from October or November to Decemberor January (Skutch 1944, 1983; Wheelwright 1983) and are believedto migrate altitudinally to lower elevations(Skutch 1944, Slud 1964, Stiles1983, Wheelwright 1983), presumablyin responseto changesin fruit abundance(Wheelwright 1983). However, sightingsof quetzalsin CostaRica are rare from Octoberto January, probablyas a

• Currentaddress.' Natural ResourcesResearch Institute, University of Minnesota,Duluth, Min- nesota 55811 USA.

86 Vol.60, •o. 1 QuetzalElevational Record [87 result of their cryptic behaviorduring this period and becausethere are fewer birders during the rainy season(N. Wheelwright, pers. comm.). Consequently,little is known about the extent and duration of their seasonalmovements. We report the lowestaltitude sight recordof which we are aware for quetzalsin Costa Rica. We alsoreport consumptionof a fruit genuspreviously unrecorded in an extensivestudy of their diets on the breedinggrounds (Wheelwright 1983). Our observationsoccurred in premontane and lower montane rain forest(Holdridge life zones,Holdridge et al. 1971, G. $. Hartshorn, pers. comm.) on the Caribbean slopesof Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo from late December1986 to mid-February 1987. We observeda minimum of five quetzalsin premontanerain forest (1060 m) on 4 d between31 Dec. 1986 and 7 Jan. 1987. In the late afternoonof 31 Dec., an adult male was observedbriefly as it flew through the foliage. This glimpse broughtour attentionto two juvenile malesand two femalesperched 20- 25 m high nearby. For the next 2 d, quetzalswere observedfeeding on arillate fruits of Virolasurinamensis (Rol.) Warb. (Myristicaceae).Quetzals plucked fruit on the wing, as describedby Wheelwright (1983) and Santana C. and Milligan (1984), and flew to adjacenttrees or anotherbranch in the Virola to handlethe fruits. Recordsof quetzalsfeeding on Virola are of particular interestbecause quetzals were not observedto feed on any similar large arillate fruits at Monteverde (Wheelwright 1983, pers. comm.). Howe (1981, 1982) found, however,that a related species,$1aty-tailed (Trogonmassena), was an uncommonvisitor to two different Virolaspecies on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. The trogon and quetzal both feed on fruits in similar ways, and thus our recordsof quetzals feeding on Virola were not unexpected. We were in lower montanerain forest (1500 m) between2 Jan. and 6 Jan. and did not observequetzals. On 7 Jan., we returned briefly to 1060 m and observeda lone female perchedfor over an hour in the same Virola tree. Few open arillate fruits remained on the tree at this time. In addition, on 2 Jan. a quetzal was heard, but not seen, in premontane rain forestat 900 m, approximately2 km N of the 1060 m sighting(G. $. Hartshorn, pers. comm.). Loiselleand Blake returnedto thesetwo sitesfor 8 d in February 1987. No quetzalswere observedat 1060 m (16-19 and 23 Feb.). However, one male was observedbriefly in flight at 1500 m on 20 Feb. In yearspast, quetzalswould seasonallyarrive in forestand forestedge at about 1250 m outsideSan Jose (P. Paaby, pers. comm.). However, quetzalsno longerreturn to thoseareas, most likely due to lossof forest in the region.Quetzals are particularlyprone to localextinction and their continuedexistence is dependenton preservationof all seasonallyrequired habitats(Bowes and Allen 1969, La Bastille 1973, Wheelwright 1983). However, we have yet to discoverthe extent of quetzals'movements and to determineif quetzalsregularly occur in forestsbelow 1300 m. This will require continuedmonitoring of remote montaneareas. Our obser- 88] B. A. Loiselleetal. j. FieldOrnithol. Winter 1989 vationsof quetzalsand other speciesthat migrate altitudinally in forest connectingEstacion Biologica La Selvato ParqueNacional Braulio Car- rillo demonstratethe necessityof suchforest elevation corridors for pres- ervationof many species(Stiles 1985).

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank F. G. Stilesand M. and P. Fogdenfor many helpful discussionsand G. S. Hartshorn for his identificationof the Virola. We thank T. L. Lloyd-Evans, B. Monroe, Jr., and N. Wheelwrightfor constructivecomments on an earlier versionof the manuscript. The followingagencies have provided support: National GeographicSociety (BAL & JGB), C. B. Nave Fund (TCM), and T. J. Watson Fellowship(DJM). We all are mostgrateful to Serviciode ParquesNacionales of CostaRica for allowingus to work in Braulio Carrillo; we especiallythank F. CortesS., J. Dobles Z., and R. Aquilar F. D. and D. Clark, R. Butterfield,and J. A. Leon of the Organizationfor Tropical Studiesprovided invaluable logisticalsupport. We particularly thank G. S. Hartshorn for introducingus to this area.

LITERATURE CITED

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