368 North-Western Journal of Zoology 13(2) / 2017

2. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, UFPA-MPEG, 66017- , there is still scarce knowledge about its ecol- 970, Belém, Pará, . ogy and behavior (Borges et al. 2004, Ramírez- 3. Ecosfera Consultoria e Pesquisa em Meio Ambiente, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Llorens & Bellocq 2007, Voirin et al. 2009, Restrepo * Corresponding author, L.J.C.d.L. Moraes, Tel.: +55 (11) 99976- et al. 2013, Enríquez 2015, Holt et al. 2016), and 4740, E-mail: [email protected] nothing is known about its tolerance to habitat

transformation and how it can use highly per- turbed environments such as cities. To date no re- cords of the are known from ur- First records of the Spectacled Owl ban areas along its range distribution. In this note, ( perspicillata) in urban areas, P. perspicillata is recorded for the first time in ur- with notes on reproduction ban areas including some observations about its reproduction. Urbanization is a widespread process that pro- motes the loss of biodiversity around the world. Armenia is the capital of Quindío department, which is located on the western slope of the Central Andes of Co- Maintenance of residential and commercial areas lombia between 1350 and 1550 m a.l.s (Fig. 1). It is a me- involves removal of big trees, shrubs, and dead dium-sized city with 295137 inhabitants (DNP 2014). It wood which affects the diversity of , whose has diverse vegetation coverage that includes small parks, richness is correlated with vegetative structure coffee plantations (sun and shade), and linear patches of (McKinney 2008). Although in some cases cities forest dominated by Guadua angustifolia that protects the can serve as refuge and suitable habitat for biodi- watersheds (Marín-Gómez 2005, Nieto et al. 2009). Al- versity (Ditchkoff et al. 2006, Ives et al. 2016), very though it is not an industrialized city, Armenia is cur- rently going through an accelerated urban development few studies have shown an increase in species as a consequence of increased edification building and richness in the transition from moderate to high urbanization expansion towards peripheries. urbanization (McKinney 2008). However, in the Records of P. perspicillata were obtained from last decades some native considered be- surveys and occasional observations carried out in Arme- fore to be intolerant of human activity, have been nia for five years (2011-2016). Time, locality, habitat, and found in urban habitats (MacGregor-Fors et al. behavior were recorded during the observations. In some 2014). They have been (Mazzeo & Torretta cases, photos and records of vocalization were obtained.

2015), (Ditchkoff et al. 2006, Latorre & Arévalo 2015) and birds (Aronson et al. 2014), in- cluding nocturnal raptors (Ribeiro & Vasconcelos 2003, Hindmarch & Elliott 2015). The Spectacled Owl, Pulsatrix perspicillata (Latham, 1790), is a large Neotropical owl distrib- uted from southern to northern up to 2600 m a.l.s (Enríquez 2015). This owl inhab- its dense tropical rainforests, gallery forests, sa- vanna woodlands, dry forests, forest edges, areas with scattered trees, and coffee shade plantations (Holt et al. 2016); and requires continuous forest areas for reproduction (Stiles & Skutch 1995). In Figure 1. Sites in Armenia city, , with records of Colombia, the Spectacled Owl has been consid- the Spectacled Owl Pulsatrix perspicillata. ered as a typical species from foothills and low- land moist forests in the regions of biogeographic Chocó, Caribbean, middle and lower Magdalena The Spectacled Owl was detected principally by valley, Orinoquia, and Amazonia (Hilty & Brown voice, using urban parks, native forest corridors, 1986, Restrepo et al. 2013). In the Central Andes of and periurban forest patches of Armenia (Table 1, Colombia, this owl is an uncommon species and it Fig. 1). The first visual record was from a periur- has been found principally in forest areas (Ar- ban forest (Universidad del Quindío) where a soli- beláez-Cortés et al. 2011, Restrepo et al. 2013, Re- tary owl was seen perched during day in bamboo strepo & Enríquez 2014, Sánchez & Camargo vegetation, and the second one was of two adults 2015). with a downy young (Fig. 2), which were found Despite the wide distribution of the Spectacled by the environmental police in an urban park

Correspondence –Notes 369

Table 1. Records of the Spectacled Owl Pulsatrix perspicillata in Armenia city, Colombia, 2011-2016.

Site name Location Vegetation Size Date Field observations cover (ha) Parque La Secreta 4°31'32.1"N, Periurban 10 03/15/2011 22:10 h. An individual in a Guadua patch, 75°40'56.7"W forest heard from the road. Parque de los 4°33'33.3"N, Urban 0.5 04/13/2011 23:30 h. Detected by song but not seen. Aborígenes 75°38'56.3"W park Parque de la Vida 4°32'32.7"N, Periurban 6 07/08/2011 21:30 h. Detected by song at 300 m. 75°39'37.2"W forest Barrio Modelo 4°32'51.1"N, Urban 3 08/15/2011 00:30 h. Detected by song. 75°40'22.8"W forest Universidad del 4°33'10.3"N, Urban 8 10/02/2013 18:20 h. An adult was seen in forest edge Quindío 75°39'41.6"W forest where Guadua angustifolia is dominant. Since then, there have been frequent ob- servations apparently of the same indi- vidual by birders to date. Centro Deportivo 4°32'42.9"N, Urban 2 12/06/2014 01:45 h. One owl singing inside the forest. de Nueva Cecilia 75°39'55.9"W forest Barrio Villa Liliana 4°31'31.5"N, Urban 1 12/09/2014 20:30 h. Vocal duet of two individuals that 75°41'25.1"W forest were apart inside the forest. Parque 4°32'45.1"N, Urban 0.5 12/28/2014 01:30 h. An individual singing and re- Fundadores 75°39'43.7"W park corded (http://www.xeno- canto.org/301856) Condominio 4°31'51.4"N, Urban 2.5 08/04/ 2015 19:00 h. Aural record verified at xeno-canto. Terraza Jardín 75°42'37.2"W forest Parque El Bosque 4°32'15.8"N, Urban 2 17/01/ 2016 16:00 h. A juvenile was seen while it was 75°40'45.5"W park doing learning flights. It fell down and it was put up in a tree by some people. It was not possible to find the adults and the juvenile was taken to the environ- mental authority. The downy chick was placed in the same site where it was found. Some weeks prior to this, two adults were seen with the downy chick, perched on a tree.

Figure 2. Spectacled Pulsatrix perspicillata in the urban area of Armenia, Colombia: a. adult in secondary forest, b. downy young in Parque El Bosque, c. adult perched on Guadua angustifolia, d. downy young confiscated by the environmental authority. Photos by Laura Ximena Cabrera (a), Rodrigo Moreno (b, c), and Andrés Arenas (d).

(Parque El Bosque). Based on the literature re- (Stiles & Skutch 1995). The few available data cords, our observations are the first report of the along its distribution indicate that the breeding Spectacled Owl using urban areas and demon- occurs during the transition between the dry and strate that this owl can breed in urban parks, even the wet season and at the end of the year (Hilty & though it requires extensive areas for nesting Brown 1989, Stiles & Skutch 1995, König & Weick 370 North-Western Journal of Zoology 13(2) / 2017

2008, Holt et al. 2016), as we observed. Taking into photos and important information about confiscations account the singing duets recorded in December and releases of the Spectacled Owl. We also thank two and the juvenile found in January, which corre- anonymous reviewers for their corrections and comments to the manuscript. OHM was supported by the graduate spond to the dry season, we suggest that the grant 417094 provided by Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y breeding period in Armenia started in the middle Tecnología (CONACYT). of the wet season (October). The presence of the Spectacled Owl in urban References areas, an unexpected habitat for this species, can Arbeláez-Cortés, E., Marín-Gómez, O.H., Duque-Montoya, D., Cardona-Camacho, P.J., Renjifo, L.M., Gómez, H.F. (2011): Birds, be due to dispersion from the rural areas which Quindío Department, Central Andes of Colombia. Check List 7: have suffered strong changes in vegetation cover 227-247. (Nieto et al. 2009). Landscape transformations in- Aronson, M.F.J., La Sorte, F.A., Nilon, C.H., Katti, M., Goddard, M.A., Lepczyk, C.A., Warren, P.S., Williams, N.S.G., Cilliers, S., clude replacement of native vegetation for plan- Clarkson, B., Dobbs, C., Dolan, R., Hedblom, M., Klotz, S., tain and sun coffee plantations, loss of shade trees, Kooijmans, J.L., Kuhn, I., MacGregor-Fors, I., McDonnell, M., and logging of standing dead trees, which are a Mortberg, U., Pysek, P., Siebert, S., Sushinsky, J., Werner, P., Winter, M. (2014): A global analysis of the impacts of critical resource as nesting sites for cavity nesting urbanization on bird and plant diversity reveals key birds such as owls (Cockle et al. 2015). Consider- anthropogenic drivers. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: ing that the Spectacled Owl is a typical species of Biological Sciences 281(1780): 1-8. Borges, S.H., Henriques, L.M., Carvalhaes, A. (2004): Density and lowland forests (Hilty & Brown 1989), another habitat use by owls in two Amazonian forest types. Journal of possible explanation for its presence in the higher Field Ornithology 75(2): 176-182. altitude urban area at of Armenia can be the re- Cockle, K.L., Bodrati, A., Lammertink, M., Martin, K. (2015): Cavity characteristics, but not habitat, influence nest survival of cavity- lease of individuals confiscated by the environ- nesting birds along a gradient of human impact in the mental authorities from fauna traders (Diego Du- subtropical Atlantic Forest. Biological Conservation 184: 193- que Montoya pers.comm.). Although this owl is 200. DNP, Departamento Nacional de Planeación. (2014): Armenia. not currently globally threatened, it is listed in Ficha municipal 63001 , accessed at: 2016.01. 25 January. are rehabilitated and then released in the nearest Ditchkoff, S. S., Saalfeld, S.T., Gibson, C. J. (2006): behavior forest (Andrés Arenas pers.comm.) even though it in urban ecosystems: Modifications due to human-induced is not their native habitat. Another possibility of stress. Urban Ecosystems 9: 5-12. Enríquez, P.L. (2015): Los búhos neotropicales: diversidad y the presence of this species in urban environments conservación. El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, México. 508 pp. could be associated with the availability of prey Hilty, S.L., Brown, W. (1986): A Field Guide to the birds of and nesting sites. Colombia. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey. Holt, D.W., Berkley, R., Deppe, C., Enríquez-Rocha, P., Petersen, Owls are an important group of birds that J.L., Rangel Salazar, J.L., Segars, K.P., Wood, K.L., Kirwan, G.M. provide ecosystem services such as pest control in (2016): Spectacled Owl (Pulsatrix perspicillata). In: del Hoyo, J., urban areas (König & Weick 2008, Enríquez 2015). Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Besides the Spectacled Owl, other four owl species Barcelona. , accessed at inhabit the city of Armenia. The Barn Owl (Tyto 2016.02. 26. alba), Stygian Owl (Asio stygius), and the Striped Hindmarch, S., Elliott, J. E. (2015): When Owls go to town: the diet of urban Barred Owls. Journal of Raptor Research 49(1): 66-74. Owl (Pseudoscops clamator) are large and uncom- Ives, C.D., Lentini, P. E., Threlfall, C. G., Ikin, K., Shanahan, D. F., mon species, while the Tropical Screech Owl Garrard, G. E., Bekessy, S. A., Fuller, R. A., Mumaw, L., Rayner, (Megascops choliba) is much smaller and more L., Rowe, R., Valentine, L. E., Kendal, D. (2016): Cities are hotspots for threatened species. Global Ecology and common. Further studies on population density, Biogeography 25: 117-126. habitat use, and breeding biology including these König, C., Weick, F. (2008): Owls of the world. A&C Black. species are needed to evaluate the ecological func- Latorre, L.F.L., Arévalo, H.F.L. (2015): Comunidad de mamíferos no voladores en un área periurbana andina, Cundinamarca, tion of owls in urban areas. Colombia. Acta Biológica Colombiana 20(2): 193-202. MacGregor-Fors, I., Avendaño-Reyes, S., Bandala, V.M., Chacón- Acknowledgments. Authors thank Idea Wild and Optics Zapata, S., Díaz-Toribio, M.H., González-García, F., Lorea- for the Tropics for equipment support. Special thanks Hernández, F., Martínez-Gómez, J., Montes de Oca, E., Montoya, L., Pineda, E., Ramírez-Restrepo, L., Rivera-García, E., must be given to Rodrigo Moreno and Laura Ximena Utreta-Barrillas, E., Escobar, F. (2014): Multi-taxonomic diversity Cabrera Casas for allowing use of photos; and Leidy patterns in a neotropical green city: a rapid biological Fernanda Daza Benavides, Diana Marcela Sánchez assessment. Urban Ecosystems 18(2): 633-647. Bellaizá, Diego Duque Montoya, and Jorge Hernán López McKinney, M.L. (2008): Effects of urbanization on species richness: for sharing their observations. Andrés Arenas (Fundación A review of plants and animals. Urban Ecosystems 11(2): 161- Unidos por la Protección de la Fauna Urbana) shared 176. Correspondence –Notes 371

Marín-Gómez, O.H. (2005): Avifauna del campus de la Universidad Recent geographic distribution of birch del Quindío. Boletín SAO 15: 42-60. Mazzeo, N.M., Torretta, J.P. (2015): Wild bees (Hymenoptera: mice (genus Sicista) in the western Apoidea) in an urban botanical garden in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment Great Caucasus Mts., with designation 50(3): 182-193. of terra typica for Sicista caucasica Nieto, M., Nieto, O.A., Duque, O.L., Muñoz, N.J., López, J.H., Jiménez, L.F. (2009): Corredor de conservación urbano: (Sminthidae, Rodentia) Disminución de la fragmentación de ecosistemas de bosque en el sistema municipal de Áreas Naturales Protegidas del municipio de Armenia. Armenia, Quindío. 70pp. Detecting birch mice (genus Sicista Gray, 1827) of Ramírez-Llorens, P., Bellocq, M.I. (2007): New records clarify the the family Sminthidae (Brandt, 1855) requires Southern distribution of the Spectacled Owl (Pulsatrix great experience, special skills and tools; addition- Perspicillata). Journal of Raptor Research 41(4): 268-276. Restrepo, J.S., López, A., Córdoba-Córdoba, S. (2013): El Búho de ally, most species are reported to be extremely rare Anteojos (Pulsatrix perspicillata) en fragmentos de bosque seco (Holden et al. 2017) and have only a few recent oc- del Valle del Río Cauca en Neira, Caldas, Colombia. Spizaetus: currence data, so their exact distribution is insuffi- Boletín de la Red de Rapaces Neotropicales 15: 19-24. Restrepo, J.S., Enríquez, P.L. (2014): Conocimiento popular sobre ciently mapped. The genus is currently intensively los búhos en poblaciones rurales del Suroccidente de Manizales, studied with special emphasis on , phy- Caldas, Colombia. Entnobiología 12(3): 41-48. logeography and conservation; for example, the Ribeiro, R.C.C., Vasconcelos, M.F. (2003): Ocorrência de Pulsatrix koeniswaldiana e de Nyctibius grandis em área urbana no leste de Southern Birch Mouse group (Sicista subtilis sensu Minas Gerais, Brasil. Ararajuba 11(2): 233-234. lato) was recently revised by Cserkész et al. (2016), Sánchez, E.L., Camargo, J.C. (2015): Diversidad de avifauna en and the first single-gene phylogeny of Caucasian paisajes rurales de la cuenca del río La Vieja, Eje Cafetero de Colombia. Recursos Naturales y Ambiente 65-66: 83-89. Birch Mouse group using Cytochrome b sequences Stiles, F.G., Skutch, A.F. (1995): Guía de Aves de . was published by Baskevich et al. (2016). Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (INBio). Heredia, Costa The Caucasian Birch Mouse (Sicista caucasica Rica. Voirin, J.B., Kays, R., Lowman, M.D., Wikelski M. (2009): Evidence Vinogradov, 1925) was described as being related for Three-Toed Sloth (Bradypus variegatus) Predation by to the Chinese birch mouse (Sicista concolor Spectacled Owl (Pulsatrix perspicillata). Edentata (8-10): 15-20. Büchner, 1892) on the basis of its uniformly col-

oured dorsal pelage that lacks the dark mid-dorsal Key words: Pulsatrix perspicillata, distribution, raptors, urbanization, Colombia, Quindío stripe. As Vinogradov (1925) wrote “it is distin- guished from S. concolor by its brighter colour, Article No.: e162602 shorter ears, shorter rostrum and nasalia.” Over Received: 07. March 2016 / Accepted: 12. August 2016 fifty years later, in the 1980’s, two new species en- Available online: 10. October 2016 / Printed: December 2017 demic to the Great Caucasus were described based upon cytogenetic data: Sicista kluchorica (Sokolov, Oscar Humberto MARÍN-GÓMEZ1,3,*, Kovalskaya & Baskevich, 1980) and S. kazbegica Yemay TORO-LÓPEZ2, (Sokolov, Baskevich & Kovalskaya, 1986) (Sokolov Margarita M. LÓPEZ-GARCÍA1,3, et al. 1981, 1986). Additionally, a “striped mouse”, Javier Ignacio GARZÓN ZULUAGA2,4 Strand’s Birch Mouse (Sicista strandi Formozov, and Diana Milena SANTA-ARISTIZABAL2,4 1931) also occurs here, which is a typical steppe faunal element, inhabiting the warmer and rela- 1. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de tively dry south-facing slopes (Shenbrot et al. Colombia, A.A. 7495. Carrera 45 No 26-85, Bogotá, Colombia 1995). 2. Universidad del Quindío, Avenida Bolívar Calle 12 Norte, Armenia, Colombia This report focuses on the faunal results of our 3. Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Carretera Antigua a Coatepec 351, El mammalogical expedition in June 2014 to the terri- Haya, Xalapa, Veracruz 91070, México tory of Russian federal republics Karachay- 4Fundación para la Investigación y Conservación de Especies Nativas Neotropicales Continentales y Oceánicas (FICENANCO), Cherkessia, Adygea and North Ossetia-Alania Calle 5 # 8-04, Barrio el Jardín, Salento, Colombia (Fig. 1), aimed to survey the habitat preference, *Corresponding author: [email protected] current density, threatening factors and conserva-

tion status of Sicista species, and to collect genetic samples for phylogenetic analyses.

The animals were trapped alive using pitfall traps as de- tailed in Cserkész et al. (2015). In short, the pitfalls were simple 5 litre buckets dug to a depth where the rim was even with the ground level, and they were set out by