A Symposium Held at the Smithsonian Institution 13-15 April 1966

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

A Symposium Held at the Smithsonian Institution 13-15 April 1966 HELMUT K. BUECHN andJIMMIE H. BUECHNE, The Avifauna BD1TO of Northern ^^W Latin America: A Symposium Held at the Smithsonian Institution 13-15 April 1966 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY • 1970 NUMBER 26 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY NUMBER 26 Helmut K. Buechner The Avifauna of and Jimmie H. Buechner TVT ^I T . • A EDITORS Northern Latin America A Symposium Held at the Smithsonian Institution 13-15 April 1966 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION PRESS CITY OF WASHINGTON 1970 SERIAL PUBLICATIONS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION The emphasis upon publications as a means of diffusing knowledge was expressed by the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. In his formal plan for the Insti- tution, Joseph Henry articulated a program that included the following statement: "It is proposed to publish a series of reports, giving an account of the new discoveries in science, and of the changes made from year to year in all branches of knowledge not strictly professional." This keynote of basic research has been adhered to over the years in the issuance of thousands of titles in serial publications under the Smithsonian imprint, commencing with Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge in 1848 and continuing with the following active series: Smithsonian Annals of Flight Smithsonian Contributions to Anthropology Smithsonian Contributions to Astrophysics Smithsonian Contributions to Botany Smithsonian Contributions to the Earth Sciences Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology Smithsonian Contributions to Z°°l°iy Smithsonian Studies in History and Technology In these series, the Institution publishes original articles and monographs dealing with the research and collections of its several museums and offices and of professional colleagues at other institutions of learning. These papers report newly acquired facts, synoptic interpretations of data, or original theory in specialized fields. Each publica- tion is distributed by mailing lists to libraries, laboratories, institutes, and interested specialists throughout the world. Individual copies may be obtained from the Smith- sonian Institution Press as long as stocks are available. S. DILLON RIPLEY Secretary Smithsonian Institution Official publication date is handstamped in a limited number of initial copies and is recorded in the Institution's annual report, Smithsonian Year. UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON : 1970 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price $3.25 Foreword This conference was conceived by William Vogt, who is well known for his early concern with the ecological consequences of the human population explosion, as expressed in his book Road to Survival (New York: William Sloane Associates, 1948). Over three decades of field observation in Latin America have provided him with a view of environmental changes, particularly the destruction of forest vegetation, that few other scholars have experienced. The conference was convened to determine, through an exchange of information, whether the drastic modification and elimina- tion of the wintering habitat of many breeding birds of North America may be responsible for depressed levels of populations. The assemblage of most of the outstanding scholars of bird life in Central America, Colombia, and Venezuela at the Smithsonian Institution resulted in a remarkable accumulation of information and exchange of ideas. Fourteen individual papers were presented, each of which was followed by discussion. Further discussion took place in a plenary session after the papers on the individual countries. In lieu of resolutions the conferees agreed on a series of suggestions which are presented in tiese proceedings. The conference was organized by the Smithsonian Office of Ecology, and made possible by a generous grant from the Conservation Foundation. We would like to express our gratitude to Paul Slud, Associate Curator, Division of Birds, National Museum of Natural History, for verifying the spelling of scientific names and for his considerable assistance with the final editing. THE EDITORS m Contents Page Foreword iii List of Participants vii Prefatory Statement, S. Dillon Ripley 1 The Meaning of Environment, Marston Bates 3 The Avifauna in a Changing Ecosystem, William Vogt 8 Discussion 13 Changing Abundance of Migratory Birds in North America, John W. Aldrich and Chandler S. Robbins 17 Discussion 25 Natural Vegetation and Reservation Prospects in Northern Latin America, L. R. Holdridge 27 Discussion 30 The Future of Avifauna in Guatemala and Its Relation to Tourism, Jorge A. Ibarra 34 Discussion 37 Effects of Habitat Changes on Population Levels of the Avifauna in Honduras, Burt L. Monroe, Jr 38 Discussion 41 Avifauna in British Honduras, Stephen M. Russell 45 Discussion 48 Avifauna in Panama, Eugene Eisenmann 50 Discussion 55 Avifauna in Nicaragua, Thomas R. Howell 58 Discussion 61 Mexico: Avifauna and Modification of Habitat, Rodolfo Herndndez Corzo. 63 Discussion 67 Avifauna in Mexico, Allan Phillips 69 Discussion 72 Avifauna in Venezuela, William H. Phelps, Jr 75 Discussion 76 Effects of the Environmental Changes on the Avifauna of the Republic of Colombia, Antonio Olivares, O.F.M 77 Discussion 84 Avifauna in Colombia, F. C. Lehmann 88 Discussion 90 Page Closing Plenary Session 93 Suggestions Emanating from the Conference on Avifauna of Northern Latin America 108 Appendix (1969) Ill Index 113 List of Participants MARSTON BATES ARMANDO DUGAND Department of Zoology Institute of Scientific Investigation University of Michigan Apartado Arereo Ann Arbor, Mich. 48104 1890Baranquilla Colombia, S.A. JAMES BOND Department of Ornithology EUGENE EISENMANN Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia Department of Ornithology Philadelphia, Pa. 19103 American Museum of Natural History New York, N.Y. 10024 MARIA BUCHINGER Latin American Natural Area Programs F. RAYMOND FOSBERG Nature Conservancy Director's Office 1701 18thSt.N.W. Museum of Natural History Washington, D.C. 20009 Smithsonian Institution Washington, D.C. 20560 HELMUT K. BUECHNER Office of Ecology IRA GABRIELSON Smithsonian Institution World Wildlife Fund Washington, D.C. 20560 710 17th St. N.W. Washington, D.C. 20006 VICTOR H. CAHALANE Route 1, Box 234C EDWARD H. GRAHAM (deceased) Alexandria, Va. 22313 Commission on Ecology of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources ROLAND C. CLEMENT Washington, D.C. 20036 National Audubon Society 1130 5th Ave. JAMES C. GREENWAY, JR. New York, N.Y. 10028 Mead's Point Greenwich, Conn. 06830 HAROLD J. COOLIDGE National Academy of Sciences LESLIE R. HOLDRIDGE National Research Council Tropical Science Center Pacific Science Board San Jose, Costa Rica Washington, D.C. 20008 THOMAS R. HOWELL RODOLFO HERNANDEZ CORZO Department of Zoology Direccion General de Caza University of California Aquiles Serdan 28, 70 Piso Los Angeles, Calif. 90024 Mexico 3, D.F. Mexico PHILIP S. HUMPHREY ROBERT S. DORNEY Director Department of Geography and Planning Museum of Natural History University of Waterloo University of Kansas Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Lawrence, Kansas 60644 Vlll SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY JORGE A. IBARRA LESTER L. SHORT Museo Nacional de Historia Natural Department of Ornithology Guatemala City, Guatemala American Museum of Natural History New York, N.Y. 10024 HUGH G. LAND Department of Biological Sciences PAUL SLUD Northwestern State College of Louisiana Division of Birds Natchitoches, La. 71457 Museum of Natural History Smithsonian Institution CARLOS LEHMANN Washington, D.C. 20560 Museo Departmental de Historia Natural Cali, Colombia ALEXANDER SPRUNT IV National Audubon Society BURT L. MONROE, Jr. Box 231 Department of Zoology Tavernier, Florida 33070 University of Louisville Louisville Ky. 40508 LLOYD W. SWIFT 3432 Greentree Drive MARTIN H. MOYNIHAN Falls Church, Va. 22041 Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute P.O. Box 2072 LEE M. TALBOT Balboa, C.Z. Office of Ecology Smithsonian Institution ANTONIO OLIVARES, O.F.M. Washington, D.C. 20560 Department of Ornithology WILLIAM VOGT (deceased) Instituto de Ciencias Naturales The Conservation Foundation Bogota, Colombia 1250 Conn. Ave.N.W. ROGER T. PETERSON Washington, D.C. 20036 Neck Road WILLIAM W. WARNER OldLyme, Conn. 06371 Office of International Activities Smithsonian Institution WILLIAM H. PHELPS, JR. Washington, D.C. 20560 Coleccion Ornithologica Phelps Apartada 2009 GEORGE E. WATSON Caracas, Venezuela Division of Birds Museum of Natural History ALLAN PHILLIPS Smithsonian Institution Mexico D.F., Mexico Washington, D.C. 20560 S. DILLON RIPLEY ALEXANDER WETMORE Secretary Division of Birds Smithsonian Institution Museum of Natural History Washington, D.C. 20560 Smithsonian Institution Washington, D.C. 20560 PHILIP RITTERBUSH DAVID B. WINGATE Office of Academic Programs GPO Box 437 Smithsonian Institution Hamilton, Bermuda Washington, D.C. 20560 RICHARD L. ZUSI STEPHEN M. RUSSELL Division of Birds Department of Zoology Museum of Natural History University of Arizona Smithsonian Institution Tucson, Ariz. 85721 Washington, D.C. 20560 Prefatory Statement S. Dillon Ripley The idea for this conference to assess the conserva- Robert MacArthur, who attempted to assess the win- tion of avifauna of northern Latin America sprang ter ranges of warblers in which he was interested, and I from the fertile mind of William Vogt, who questioned remember descriptive and agonizing portrayals of the what happens to North American migrating birds on trials and tribulations of migrating warblers
Recommended publications
  • Fruits and the Ecology of Resplendent Quetzals
    FRUITS AND THE ECOLOGY OF RESPLENDENT QUETZALS NATHANIEL T. WHEELWRIGHT 1 Departmentof Zoology,University of Washington,Seattle, Washington 98195 USA ABsTR^CT.--ResplendentQuetzals (Pharomachrus rnocinno) are typicallytermed "special- ized" fruit-eatingbirds, althoughthere are few data describingthe breadthof their diet or the characteristicsof the fruits they select.In fact, there is no generalconsensus about the meaning or consequencesof being a fruit specialist. In the lower montane forests at Monteverde,Costa Rica, quetzalsfeed on a minimum of 12-18 speciesof fruits at most timesof the year and on an annualtotal of at least41 species.Although their diet includes the watery,small-seeded berries of many second-growthplants, they depend mostly on the largedrupes of about18 speciesin the laurelfamily (Lauraceae).The phenologiesand habitat distributionsof the Lauraceaeappear to dictatethe timing and directionof seasonalmove- mentsby quetzals.Mutual dependenceand, possibly,general coevolution between quetzals and the lauraceoustrees whose seeds they disperseare suggestedby the birds' morphology, distribution, behavior, and life history. Nestling quetzalsare broughtentire fruits as early as the secondday after hatching. Thereafter,they consumegradually increasing amounts of fruit, but, even immediately beforethey fledge,most of their diet consistsof insects,snails, and lizards.Brooding drops off rapidly by the time chicksare 9 days old. Considerablevariation in broodingduration, parentalsex roles, and nestlingdiet existsbetween nests, however, and apparentlybetween dutches. Adults take far less time to deliver fruits to nestlingsthan to deliver insectsor lizards, which reflectsthe relativeease of "capturing"ripe fruits (asopposed to animal prey) during the breeding season.The male parent delivered significantlymore insectsand food items in generalthan did the female at a first-dutchnest but not at a second-clutchnest.
    [Show full text]
  • The Birds of Reserva Ecológica Guapiaçu (REGUA)
    Cotinga 33 The birds of Reserva Ecológica Guapiaçu (REGUA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Leonardo Pimentel and Fábio Olmos Received 30 September 2009; final revision accepted 15 December 2010 Cotinga 33 (2011): OL 8–24 published online 16 March 2011 É apresentada uma lista da avifauna da Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu (REGUA), uma reserva privada de 6.500 ha localizada no município de Cachoeiras de Macacu, vizinha ao Parque Estadual dos Três Picos, Estação Ecológica do Paraíso e Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos, parte de um dos maiores conjuntos protegidos do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Foram registradas um total de 450 espécies de aves, das quais 63 consideradas de interesse para conservação, como Leucopternis lacernulatus, Harpyhaliaetus coronatus, Triclaria malachitacea, Myrmotherula minor, Dacnis nigripes, Sporophila frontalis e S. falcirostris. A reserva também está desenvolvendo um projeto de reintrodução dos localmente extintos Crax blumembachii e Aburria jacutinga, e de reforço das populações locais de Tinamus solitarius. The Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil and Some information has been published on neighbouring Argentina and Paraguay is among the birds of lower (90–500 m) elevations in the the most imperilled biomes in the world. At region10,13, but few areas have been subject to least 188 bird species are endemic to it, and 70 long-term surveys. Here we present the cumulative globally threatened birds occur there, most of them list of a privately protected area, Reserva Ecológica endemics4,8. The Atlantic Forest is not homogeneous Guapiaçu (REGUA), which includes both low-lying and both latitudinal and longitudinal gradients parts of the Serra dos Órgãos massif and nearby account for diverse associations of discrete habitats higher ground, now mostly incorporated within and associated bird communities.
    [Show full text]
  • CAT Vertebradosgt CDC CECON USAC 2019
    Catálogo de Autoridades Taxonómicas de vertebrados de Guatemala CDC-CECON-USAC 2019 Centro de Datos para la Conservación (CDC) Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas (Cecon) Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala Este documento fue elaborado por el Centro de Datos para la Conservación (CDC) del Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas (Cecon) de la Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia de la Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala. Guatemala, 2019 Textos y edición: Manolo J. García. Zoólogo CDC Primera edición, 2019 Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas (Cecon) de la Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia de la Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala ISBN: 978-9929-570-19-1 Cita sugerida: Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas [Cecon]. (2019). Catálogo de autoridades taxonómicas de vertebrados de Guatemala (Documento técnico). Guatemala: Centro de Datos para la Conservación [CDC], Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas [Cecon], Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala [Usac]. Índice 1. Presentación ............................................................................................ 4 2. Directrices generales para uso del CAT .............................................. 5 2.1 El grupo objetivo ..................................................................... 5 2.2 Categorías taxonómicas ......................................................... 5 2.3 Nombre de autoridades .......................................................... 5 2.4 Estatus taxonómico
    [Show full text]
  • Florida State University Libraries
    )ORULGD6WDWH8QLYHUVLW\/LEUDULHV 2018 Using a Call-Response Occupancy Survey with Brown-headed Nuthatches (Sitta pusilla) to Evaluate the Biological Species Concept Heather Levy Follow this and additional works at DigiNole: FSU's Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected] THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES USING A CALL-REPONSE OCCUPANCY SURVEY WITH BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES (SITTA PUSILLA) TO EVALUATE THE BIOLOGICAL SPECIES CONCEPT By HEATHER LEVY A Thesis submitted to the Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for graduation with Honors in the Major Degree Awarded: Spring 2018 ! Heather Levy FSU EAOS Honors Thesis Using a Call-Response Occupancy Survey with Brown-headed Nuthatches (Sitta pusilla) to Evaluate the Biological Species Concept Abstract The status of the endangered Bahama Nuthatch (Sitta insularis) as an independent species is being debated. The Bahama Nuthatch currently is listed as a subspecies of the Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla), even though the two differ in morphology, song, genetic characteristics, and range. According to the biological species concept, if two populations of the same species are unable to vocally recognize one another, then the two populations would not be able to interbreed, inferring two distinct species. Birds generally react more aggressively to vocalizations of conspecifics, or of the same species, than those of non-predatory heterospecifics, or of a different species, because two members of one species are in closer competition for mates, resources, and territories. In this study, I used a call-response occupancy survey at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge to determine if using playback increased detection probabilities of Brown-headed Nuthatches.
    [Show full text]
  • A Revision of the Mexican Piculus (Picidae) Complex
    THE WILSON BULLETIN A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE OF ORNITHOLOGY Published by the Wilson Ornithological Society VOL. 90, No. 2 JUNE 1978 PAGES 159-334 WilsonBdl., 90(Z), 1978, pp. 159-181 A REVISION OF THE MEXICAN PZCULUS (PICIDAE) COMPLEX LUIS F. BAPTISTA The neotropical woodpeckers of the genus Piculus are closely related to the flickers (Colaptes) (Short 1972). P icu 1us species range from Mexico to southern Brazil, Paraguay, Peru (Ridgway 1914) and Argentina (Salvin and Godman 1892). Peters (1948) lists 46 taxa (9 species and their sub- species) of which 20 are subspecies of Piculus rubiginosus, the most widely distributed species. The latter ranges from southern Veracruz to the north- western provinces of Jujuy, Salta, and Tucuman in Argentina (Peters 1948). Compared with other picids, this genus is generally poorly represented in museum collections. It is possible that they are not as rare as they seem, but being rather silent and secretive birds and difficult to distinguish from the associated vegetation due to their cryptic green coloration, are easily passed unnoticed by collectors in the field. A difference of opinion exists among taxonomists regarding the status of several of the Mexican forms. Two species complexes are recognized in the Mexican check-list (Miller et al. 1957). The Piculus auricularti complex is reported by these authors as consisting of 2 subspecies: sonoriensis known only from the type series of 3 birds taken at Ranch0 Santa Barbara, Sonora, and the nominate race auricularis recorded as ranging from Sinaloa south to Guerrero. They point out the uncertain status of the form sonorien- sis, stating that additional material is needed to substantiate it.
    [Show full text]
  • St Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago 23 Nov – 10 Dec 2012
    St Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago 23rd Nov – 10th Dec 2012 Written by Alan Baxter [email protected], Surrey, UK + Simon Hartill & Mark Rolfe, Southampton, UK I always fancied going to T&T but it never made top of the list and with more birds being available on mainland S.America it didn’t seem to make sense with the higher ‘cost per tick’. However, after being overwhelmed in Peru many years ago, a browse through the Wildwings brochure earlier this year finally sealed a much wanted decision to go. Their itinerary is well paced and you can go whenever you like as it doesn’t depend on a large group booking with a UK guide. We decided to go end Nov/early Dec as the wet season (in theory!) is over and if you go before 15th Dec the cost is much reduced. As the plane went via St Lucia Wildwings changed the itinerary at our request, to include a few days see the endemics. The trip was a great success as we saw most of our targets due, in no small part, to our local guide Kenny whose local knowledge and sharp eyes were invaluable. Logistics We booked a package through Wildwings, thanks go to Sarah-Jane Thompson for her help in sorting everything for T&T out. Bookings for T&T birding holidays have dropped in the last few years, probably due to the economic problems, but this means it is actually a great time to go. We were fortunate to have no other people on our tour so we had Kenny’s 6+ seater van all to ourselves, personally I hate large tour groups.
    [Show full text]
  • Birdlife International for the Input of Analyses, Technical Information, Advice, Ideas, Research Papers, Peer Review and Comment
    UNEP/CMS/ScC16/Doc.10 Annex 2b CMS Scientific Council: Flyway Working Group Reviews Review 2: Review of Current Knowledge of Bird Flyways, Principal Knowledge Gaps and Conservation Priorities Compiled by: JEFF KIRBY Just Ecology Brookend House, Old Brookend, Berkeley, Gloucestershire, GL13 9SQ, U.K. June 2010 Acknowledgements I am grateful to colleagues at BirdLife International for the input of analyses, technical information, advice, ideas, research papers, peer review and comment. Thus, I extend my gratitude to my lead contact at the BirdLife Secretariat, Ali Stattersfield, and to Tris Allinson, Jonathan Barnard, Stuart Butchart, John Croxall, Mike Evans, Lincoln Fishpool, Richard Grimmett, Vicky Jones and Ian May. In addition, John Sherwell worked enthusiastically and efficiently to provide many key publications, at short notice, and I’m grateful to him for that. I also thank the authors of, and contributors to, Kirby et al. (2008) which was a major review of the status of migratory bird species and which laid the foundations for this work. Borja Heredia, from CMS, and Taej Mundkur, from Wetlands International, also provided much helpful advice and assistance, and were instrumental in steering the work. I wish to thank Tim Jones as well (the compiler of a parallel review of CMS instruments) for his advice, comment and technical inputs; and also Simon Delany of Wetlands International. Various members of the CMS Flyway Working Group, and other representatives from CMS, BirdLife and Wetlands International networks, responded to requests for advice and comment and for this I wish to thank: Olivier Biber, Joost Brouwer, Nicola Crockford, Carlo C. Custodio, Tim Dodman, Roger Jaensch, Jelena Kralj, Angus Middleton, Narelle Montgomery, Cristina Morales, Paul Kariuki Ndang'ang'a, Paul O’Neill, Herb Raffaele and David Stroud.
    [Show full text]
  • Birding the Atlantic Rainforest, South-East Brazil Itororo Lodge and Regua 11Th – 20Th March 2018
    BIRDING THE ATLANTIC RAINFOREST, SOUTH-EAST BRAZIL ITORORO LODGE AND REGUA 11TH – 20TH MARCH 2018 White-barred Piculet (©Andy Foster) Guided and report compiled by Andy Foster www.serradostucanos.com.br Sunday 11th March The following 10 day tour was a private trip for a group of 4 friends. We all flew in from the UK on a BA flight landing the night of the 10th and stayed in the Linx Hotel located close to the International airport in Rio de Janeiro. We met up for breakfast at 07.00 and by 08.00 our driver had arrived to take us for the 2.5 hour drive to Itororo Lodge where we were to spend our first 6 nights birding the higher elevations of the Serra do Mar Mountains. On the journey up we saw Magnificent Frigatebird, Cocoi Heron, Great White Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Neotropic Cormorant and Roadside Hawk. By 10.30 we had arrived at the lodge and were greeted by Bettina and Rainer who would be our hosts for the next week. The feeders were busy at the lodge and we were soon picking up new species including Azure-shouldered Tanager, Brassy-breasted Tanager, Black-goggled Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Ruby- crowned Tanager, Golden-chevroned Tanager, Magpie Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Plain Parakeet, Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Green-winged Saltator, Pale-breasted Thrush, Violet- capped Woodnymph, Black Jacobin, Scale-throated Hermit, Sombre Hummingbird, Brazilian Ruby and White-throated Hummingbird…. not bad for the first 30 minutes! We spent the last hour or so before lunch getting to grips with the feeder birds, we also picked up brief but good views of a Black-Hawk Eagle as it flew through the lodge gardens.
    [Show full text]
  • Birding in the Southern Caribbean
    Trinidad and Grenada Birding in the southern Caribbean Trinidad is situated just a few miles off the coast of Venezuela in South America and offers an ideal introduction to the birdlife of South America. The secret of the island's varied avifauna lies in the wide range of habitats, which includes high mountains, rainforests, marshes, agricultural lands and abandoned cocoa plantations. These diverse areas attract a wide range of birds from North and South America. Our base in Trinidad is the world-famous Asa Wright Nature Centre, which is located within tropical rainforest habitats. Grenada in contrast is a tiny island famous for the production of spices, notably nutmeg. The island has several interesting areas for birds, including the Mount Harman Estate which is home to the critically endangered Grenada Dove. Day 1: Fly to Port of Spain, the capital of Tr inidad and Tobago, and transfer to the Dates Asa Wright Nature Centre, which will be Friday November 19th – Tuesday our base for the holiday. November 30th 2021 Leader: Simon Papps and local Days 2-8: Today is spent in and around guides the centre, which is situated on a ridge at Group Size 7 360 metres in the grounds of an old cocoa Birds: 200-250 plantation. The view from the veranda is over a rainforest valley with the lowlands of the island visible in the distance. The high- itself has many hummingbird feeders er trees often give views of Channel-billed attracting Bananaquit, White-necked Toucan and Bearded Bellbird giving their Jacobin, Black-throated Mango, Blue- hammer-and-anvil-like calls.
    [Show full text]
  • A Comprehensive Species-Level Molecular Phylogeny of the New World
    YMPEV 4758 No. of Pages 19, Model 5G 2 December 2013 Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution xxx (2013) xxx–xxx 1 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ympev 5 6 3 A comprehensive species-level molecular phylogeny of the New World 4 blackbirds (Icteridae) a,⇑ a a b c d 7 Q1 Alexis F.L.A. Powell , F. Keith Barker , Scott M. Lanyon , Kevin J. Burns , John Klicka , Irby J. Lovette 8 a Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, and Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota, 100 Ecology Building, 1987 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN 9 55108, USA 10 b Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA 11 c Barrick Museum of Natural History, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA 12 d Fuller Evolutionary Biology Program, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, NY 14950, USA 1314 15 article info abstract 3117 18 Article history: The New World blackbirds (Icteridae) are among the best known songbirds, serving as a model clade in 32 19 Received 5 June 2013 comparative studies of morphological, ecological, and behavioral trait evolution. Despite wide interest in 33 20 Revised 11 November 2013 the group, as yet no analysis of blackbird relationships has achieved comprehensive species-level sam- 34 21 Accepted 18 November 2013 pling or found robust support for most intergeneric relationships. Using mitochondrial gene sequences 35 22 Available online xxxx from all 108 currently recognized species and six additional distinct lineages, together with strategic 36 sampling of four nuclear loci and whole mitochondrial genomes, we were able to resolve most relation- 37 23 Keywords: ships with high confidence.
    [Show full text]
  • Colombia Trip Report Santa Marta Extension 25Th to 30Th November 2014 (6 Days)
    RBT Colombia: Santa Marta Extension Trip Report - 2014 1 Colombia Trip Report Santa Marta Extension 25th to 30th November 2014 (6 days) Buffy Hummingbird by Clayton Burne Trip report compiled by tour leader: Clayton Burne RBT Colombia: Santa Marta Extension Trip Report - 2014 2 Our Santa Marta extension got off to a flying start with some unexpected birding on the first afternoon. Having arrived in Barranquilla earlier than expected, we wasted no time and headed out to the nearby Universidad del Norte – one of the best places to open our Endemics account. It took only a few minutes to find Chestnut- winged Chachalaca, and only a few more to obtain excellent views of a number of these typically localised birds. A fabulous welcome meal was then had on the 26th floor of our city skyscraper hotel! An early start the next day saw us leaving the city of Barranquilla for the nearby scrub of Caño Clarín. Our account opened quickly with a female Sapphire-throated Hummingbird followed by many Russet-throated Puffbirds. A Chestnut-winged Chachalaca by Clayton Burne White-tailed Nightjar was the surprise find of the morning. We added a number of typical species for the area including Caribbean Hornero, Scaled Dove, Green-and-rufous, Green and Ringed Kingfishers, Red-crowned, Red-rumped and Spot-breasted Woodpeckers, Stripe-backed and Bicolored Wrens, as well as Black-crested Antshrike. Having cleared up the common stuff, we headed off to Isla de Salamanca, a mangrove reserve that plays host to another very scarce endemic, the Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird. More good luck meant that the very first bird we saw after climbing out of the vehicle was the targeted bird itself.
    [Show full text]
  • Current Research 2012–2013 This Year’S Cover Features a Photograph of a Bullock’S Oriole Taken by Dr
    © Timothy Fulbright Current Research 2012–2013 This year’s cover features a photograph of a Bullock’s oriole taken by Dr. Timothy Fulbright. This oriole is one of over 350 species of birds that can be found in South Texas landscapes. Editor Alan M. Fedynich, Ph.D. Reports in this issue of Current Research often represent preliminary analyses, and interpretations may be modified once additional data are collected and examined. Therefore, these reports should not be cited in published or non-published works without the approval of the appropriate investigator. Use of trade names does not infer endorsement of product by TAMUK. December 2013 Report of Current Research September 1, 2012 to August 31, 2013 Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute Dick and Mary Lewis Kleberg College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Human Sciences Texas A&M University-Kingsville Kingsville, Texas Dr. Steven H. Tallant Dr. Rex Gandy President Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. G. Allen Rasmussen Dr. Fred C. Bryant Dean, Dick and Mary Lewis Kleberg Leroy G. Denman, Jr. Endowed College of Agriculture, Natural Resources Director of Wildlife Research and Human Sciences CKWRI Advisory Board Gus T. Canales David Winfield Killam Barry Coates Roberts T. Dan Friedkin Chris C. Kleberg Stuart W. Stedman Henry R. Hamman* Tio Kleberg Buddy Temple George C. “Tim” Hixon C. Berdon Lawrence Ben F. Vaughan, III Karen Hunke Kenneth E. Leonard Bryan Wagner A. C. “Dick” Jones, IV James A. McAllen Charles A. Williams *Chairman A Member of the Texas A&M University System 1 FOREWORD Wildlife enthusiasts who care We witnessed it again when we decided to place a quail about South Texas are hard to scientist in San Antonio.
    [Show full text]