DOCSLIB.ORG

Body Size, Nest Predation, and Reproductive Patterns in Brown Thrashers and Other Mimids’

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

7-he Condor 88~446-455 0 The Cooper Ornithological Society 1986 BODY SIZE, NEST PREDATION, AND REPRODUCTIVE PATTERNS IN BROWN THRASHERS AND OTHER MIMIDS’ MICHAELT. MURPHY~AND ROBERTC. FLEISCHER~ Department of Systematicsand Ecology,Museum of Natural History, Universityof Kansas, Lawrence,KS 66045 Abstract. We describethe breeding biology of Brown Thrashers (Toxostomarufum) in Kansas, and combine this with data from other temperate-zone breeding Mimidae to characterizerepro- ductive patterns in this group. Brown Thrashers produced clutchesof 3 to 6 eggs,but clutchesof 4 predominated. Most pairs raised 2 broods per year. Incubation required between 13 and 14 days, and hatching was usually asynchronous.Though sample size was small, asynchronyappeared to increase in frequency towards the end of the breeding season.Nestlings grew rapidly, and in 10 days or less most pre-fledging growth was completed. Young fledged normally at 11 days of age at 65% of adult weight, but with the tarsi near adult size. Nestlings starved in 27% of nests, but predators were responsiblefor most nest failures. Overall nest successwas 43%. Brown Thrashers are typical of other temperate-zone mimids. Modal clutch sizes are of either 3 or 4 eggsand all speciesare multi-brooded. Mimids from the southwesternUnited States and Mexico lay normally 3 egg clutches, but elsewhere 4 eggsare most common. Incubation length and nestling growth rate vary significantlywith adult weight, but on average, incubation is 3 days shorter and nestlings grow 36% faster than predicted. Relative incubation length and relative fledging weight both declined significantly with adult weight, whereas daily nest mortality rate increased significantly with adult size. Although our data are consistentwith the hypothesis that heavy nest predation has favored rapid nestling growth and completion of development outside of the nest, rapid growth may also function in brood reduction. Present data are insufficient to exclude conclusively either factor in the evolution of rapid development in mimids. Key words: Broodreduction; growth; hatching asynchrony; Mimidae; nestpredation; Toxostoma. INTRODUCTION either exploiting unpredictable food supplies, Variability of growth rates and hatching pat- or sufferinghigh rates ofnest predation. Hatch- terns in altricial nestlings have been related ing asynchrony, however, possibly occurs for chiefly to features of their food supply and the other reasons(Richter 1982, Clark and Wilson frequency of nest loss to predators. Growth 1985, Hussell 1985, Mead and Morton 1985). rates determine peak nestling energy demand In this report we describe the breeding bi- (O’Connor 1977, Ricklefs 1984) and time spent ology of Brown Thrashers (Mimidae: Toxos- in the nest, thereby influencing both the par- toma n&m) in eastern Kansas, including the ent’s ability to eliminate starvingyoung through first data on nestling growth. Aspects of their brood reduction (O’Connor 1977), and the reproductive biology have been documented probability that predators will locate and de- in a portion of their range (Erwin 1935), but stroy nestsbefore fledging(Lack 1968, Ricklefs only fragmentary information existsfor Brown 1969a, 1984). Hatching asynchrony results in Thrashers breeding west of the Mississippi size differences among young which has tra- River (Gabrielson 19 12, Johnston 1958). In ditionally been viewed as an adaptation to fa- conjunction with data on hatching and growth cilitate brood reduction (Lack 1954, Ricklefs patterns, and sourcesof nestling mortality in 1965, Howe 1976, Richter 1984). It may also other temperate-zonebreeding mimids, we also shorten exposure time for nest contents, and describe and attempt to identify the selective give the earliest hatching young growth ad- basis for breeding patterns in this group. vantages to increase their probabilities of es- One possible contributor to variability in capinga predation attempt on the nest (Hussell reproduction is body size (Ricklefs 1968, Rahn 1972, Clark and Wilson 198 1). Existing theory et al. 1975, Blueweisset al. 1978, Western and thus predicts the evolution of hatching asyn- Ssemakula 1982, Czlder 1984). Comparative chrony and rapid nestling growth in species breeding studiesmust therefore control for dif- ferencesin size. Comparisonsof allometric (i.e., size-dependent) relations of specific taxa to ’ ’ Received22 November 1985.Final acceptance3 March “average,” empirically derived allometric re- 1986. lations are in fact preferable to single species * Department of Life Sciences,Indiana StateUniversity, comparisons because they are less subject to Terre Haute, IN 47809. 3Hawaiian Evolutionary Biology Program, University error. Our results suggestthat reproductive of Hawaii, 3050 Maile Way, 3 10 Gilmore, Honolulu, HI patterns in mimids exhibit size dependence, 96822. but that a combination of ecological pressures 14461 MIMID REPRODUCTION 441 have probably acted in concert to produce the A group of nests that survived incubation characteristic mimid pattern of rapid nestling was used to measure nestling growth. Most growth and short nest occupancy. nests were visited daily. Nestlings were iden- tified by clipping toenails at the first visit. At the first and all subsequentvisits, nestlingswere weighed to the nearest0.1 g (50 or 100 g Pesola METHODS Scale) and tarsus and eighth primary lengths BROWN THRASHERS measured to the nearest 0.1 mm.’ Adult sizes were obtained from specimensin the KUMNH Field studies were conducted from the end of from eastern Kansas. April through July, 198 1 and 1982 in mod- erately grazed pasture located 6.5 km west of the city of Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas INTERSPECIFIC STUDIES (38’57’N and 95’19’W). Scattered shrubs and We restricted our analysisto speciesthat breed trees were found throughout the site, but hab- in temperate-zone regions.Our sample includ- itats with a closed canopy comprised lessthan ed all 10 speciesof Mimidae breeding in North 5% of the total area. Virtually all nests were America, and one South American species.Due located within an intensively studied area to varying degrees of completeness, sample measuring about 740 x 540 m (40 ha). sizes for different analysesvaried. We treated Nests were located by observing females in Arizona and southTexas populationsof Curve- transit to either existing nests or those under billed Thrashers(T. cuwirostre)separately since construction. We visited nests every 2 to 3 adult body size, clutch and eggsizes, and ’nest- days until eggswere laid, and then followed ling growth all showed distinct differences. them until fledging of young or destruction of Adult weights were taken from original the nest. Dates of clutch initiation were ob- sourceswhen given. Otherwise,we usedDunn ’s tained either by direct observation or by back- (1984) compilation, or the field records of as- dating from hatching date of clutches.Clutches sociatesto obtain weightsfor adults. Adult tar- observed during egg-layingwere considered to sus lengths were measured (nearest 0.1 .mm) be complete if successivevisits indicated no from 5 male and 5 female specimensfor each change in egg number. Heavily incubated specieswith data on growth of the tarsus(study clutches were also assumed to be complete. skinsfrom the KUMNH). We estimated mean Because eggs were always laid on successive eggweight for each speciesusing the egg mea- days during laying, and because we had no surements given in Bent (1948) and Fraga evidence for egg removal by the brood-para- (1985), and the conversion factors described sitic Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater), above for Brown Thrashers. This wasjustified we assumedthat clutchesfirst observed during by comparison of calculated eggweight to ac- incubation representedfull clutches.Nests that tual fresh egg weight for Crissal Thrashers (T. fledged at least one nestling were considered dorsale) and Chalk-browed Mockingbirds (M. successful.We corrected nest successfor ex- saturninus) given by Finch (1982) and Fraga posure time using Mayfield’s (196 1) method. (198 5), respectively. In both cases,calculated Additional clutch size data were obtained and observed weightsdiffered by lessthan 1%. from nest records at the University of Kansas Clutch size, incubation and nestling period Museum of Natural History (KUMNH, Law- lengths, weight gain and tarsus growth, and rence, Kansas). For the nest records to be sat- nest successwere taken from original literature isfactory for use, we required that successive sources.We used Bent’s (1948) summaries for visits had been made to each nest that indi- the former three variables only when data were cated no changein eggnumber, or the observer not available from field studies. noted that incubation was in progress. Only Rates of nestling weight gain and increase 38 of 98 nest records satisfied these criteria. in tarsus length were calculated for all species We combined the nest record-card informa- with data using Ricklefs’ (1967) graphical tion with our field data and grouped nestsinto method. Allometric relationships between 15-day periods beginning 15 April to test for body size (or egg size) and reproductive traits seasonalchanges in clutch size. We also mea- in mimids were described by applying least suredeggs for maximum length (L) and breadth squareslinear regressionto double logarithmic (B) in six nests in the field in 198 1 and for 2 1 transformations of each dependent variable clutches previously collected in the same re- versus body weight (or egg weight). Compar- gion and now located
Recommended publications
  • Predation by Gray Catbird on Brown Thrasher Eggs

    Predation by Gray Catbird on Brown Thrasher Eggs

    March 2004 Notes 101 PREDATION BY GRAY CATBIRD ON BROWN THRASHER EGGS JAMES W. RIVERS* AND BRETT K. SANDERCOCK Kansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506 (JWR) Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506 (BKS) Present address of JWR: Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106 *Correspondent: [email protected] ABSTRACT The gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) has been documented visiting and breaking the eggs of arti®cial nests, but the implications of such observations are unclear because there is little cost in depredating an undefended nest. During the summer of 2001 at Konza Prairie Bio- logical Station, Kansas, we videotaped a gray catbird that broke and consumed at least 1 egg in a brown thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) nest. Our observation was consistent with egg predation because the catbird consumed the contents of the damaged egg after breaking it. The large difference in body mass suggests that a catbird (37 g) destroying eggs in a thrasher (69 g) nest might risk injury if caught in the act of predation and might explain why egg predation by catbirds has been poorly documented. Our observation indicated that the catbird should be considered as an egg predator of natural nests and that single-egg predation of songbird nests should not be attributed to egg removal by female brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) without additional evidence. RESUMEN El paÂjaro gato gris (Dumetella carolinensis) ha sido documentado visitando y rompien- do los huevos de nidos arti®ciales, pero las implicaciones de dichas observaciones no son claras porque hay poco costo por depredar un nido sin defensa.
  • Introduction

    Introduction

    INTRODUCTION UC-Stallcup TEXT.indd 1 1/23/14 11:30 AM This contribution to the California Natural History Guide Series of the University of California Press follows a long tradi- tion of books that explain, explore, and celebrate the natural riches of California and beyond. Our intent is to tell beginning birders, or curious naturalists, the how, what, when, where, and why of birding. Because birds are so mobile, some individuals of most spe- cies can wander far from their natal homes and appear any- where. Here we have tried to include only those species most likely to be seen along the coast, from Big Sur to the Oregon border. This is not a field guide to bird identification, but a field guide to the birds themselves. Birding is a word that encompasses many concepts. For some, the activity of searching for and observing birds is a clear window into the natural world, an affirmation of its beauty and its peacefulness. To others, birding is a delightful diversion from the hectic or perhaps boring daily routine of the mod- ern world— providing calm amid the chaos. Birds are nature’s ambassadors, connecting us through their ancient lineage to evolution’s astonishing creativity and offering us some guid- ance, through our study of their habitat needs, in our steward- ship of the Earth. Some people have found the wonders of birds to be the perfect antidote to sadness or loneliness, or a path to comradeship with kindred spirits; others consider the complex- ities of identification or behavior an intellectual challenge.
  • Birds of the East Texas Baptist University Campus with Birds Observed Off-Campus During BIOL3400 Field Course

    Birds of the East Texas Baptist University Campus with Birds Observed Off-Campus During BIOL3400 Field Course

    Birds of the East Texas Baptist University Campus with birds observed off-campus during BIOL3400 Field course Photo Credit: Talton Cooper Species Descriptions and Photos by students of BIOL3400 Edited by Troy A. Ladine Photo Credit: Kenneth Anding Links to Tables, Figures, and Species accounts for birds observed during May-term course or winter bird counts. Figure 1. Location of Environmental Studies Area Table. 1. Number of species and number of days observing birds during the field course from 2005 to 2016 and annual statistics. Table 2. Compilation of species observed during May 2005 - 2016 on campus and off-campus. Table 3. Number of days, by year, species have been observed on the campus of ETBU. Table 4. Number of days, by year, species have been observed during the off-campus trips. Table 5. Number of days, by year, species have been observed during a winter count of birds on the Environmental Studies Area of ETBU. Table 6. Species observed from 1 September to 1 October 2009 on the Environmental Studies Area of ETBU. Alphabetical Listing of Birds with authors of accounts and photographers . A Acadian Flycatcher B Anhinga B Belted Kingfisher Alder Flycatcher Bald Eagle Travis W. Sammons American Bittern Shane Kelehan Bewick's Wren Lynlea Hansen Rusty Collier Black Phoebe American Coot Leslie Fletcher Black-throated Blue Warbler Jordan Bartlett Jovana Nieto Jacob Stone American Crow Baltimore Oriole Black Vulture Zane Gruznina Pete Fitzsimmons Jeremy Alexander Darius Roberts George Plumlee Blair Brown Rachel Hastie Janae Wineland Brent Lewis American Goldfinch Barn Swallow Keely Schlabs Kathleen Santanello Katy Gifford Black-and-white Warbler Matthew Armendarez Jordan Brewer Sheridan A.
  • Backyard Birds, Ornithology Study & ID Guide

    Backyard Birds, Ornithology Study & ID Guide

    See how many of the following common central Florida birds you can find and identify by watching their typical hangouts and habitats, March - October. Record observations in the boxes next to each species. At Birdfeeders (Sunflower seeds are a bird favorite; hummingbird feeders imitate flowers.) Watch for migrants (m) passing through, March to May, September to October; a grosbeak would be a special sighting. Northern Cardinal Tufted Titmouse Blue Jay (Cardinalis cardinalis) (Baeolophus bicolor) (Cyanocitta cristata) Rose-breasted Grosbeak Carolina Chickadee Ruby-throated Humming- (Pheucticus ludovicianus) (m) (Poecile carolinensis) bird (Archilochus colubris) In Trees, on Trunks and Branches (Keep an eye on nearby utility lines and poles too.) Look for mixed flocks moving through the trees hunting insects. Listen for dove coos, owl whoos, woodpecker drums. Mourning Dove Great Crested Northern Parula American Red- (Zenaida macroura) Flycatcher Warbler start Warbler (m) (Myiarchus crinitus) (Setophaga americana) (Setophaga ruticilla) Barred Owl Red-bellied Downy Pileated (Strix varia) Woodpecker Woodpecker Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) (Picoides pubescens) (Dryocopus pileatus) In and Around Bushes, Shrubs, Hedges (Listen for chips, calls, songs in the underbrush.) Brushy vegetation provides nesting sites, food, and cover for many birds. Say Pish-pish-pish-pish—some might peak out! Carolina Wren White-eyed Vireo Common Yellowthroat (Thryothorus ludovicianus) (Vireo griseus) Warbler (Geothlypis trichas) Gray Catbird (m) Brown Thrasher Northern Mockingbird (Dumetella carolinensis) (Toxostoma rufum) (Mimus polyglottos) Large Walking Birds (These species can fly, but spend most of their time foraging on foot.) Sandhill cranes stroll in town & country. Ibis hunt for food on moist ground. Wild turkeys eat mostly plants materials.
  • Biodiversity and Ecological Potential of Plum Island, New York

    Biodiversity and Ecological Potential of Plum Island, New York

    Biodiversity and ecological potential of Plum Island, New York New York Natural Heritage Program i New York Natural Heritage Program The New York Natural Heritage Program The NY Natural Heritage Program is a partnership NY Natural Heritage has developed two notable between the NYS Department of Environmental online resources: Conservation Guides include the Conservation (NYS DEC) and The Nature Conservancy. biology, identification, habitat, and management of many Our mission is to facilitate conservation of rare animals, of New York’s rare species and natural community rare plants, and significant ecosystems. We accomplish this types; and NY Nature Explorer lists species and mission by combining thorough field inventories, scientific communities in a specified area of interest. analyses, expert interpretation, and the most comprehensive NY Natural Heritage also houses iMapInvasives, an database on New York's distinctive biodiversity to deliver online tool for invasive species reporting and data the highest quality information for natural resource management. planning, protection, and management. In 1990, NY Natural Heritage published Ecological NY Natural Heritage was established in 1985 and is a Communities of New York State, an all inclusive contract unit housed within NYS DEC’s Division of classification of natural and human-influenced Fish, Wildlife & Marine Resources. The program is communities. From 40,000-acre beech-maple mesic staffed by more than 25 scientists and specialists with forests to 40-acre maritime beech forests, sea-level salt expertise in ecology, zoology, botany, information marshes to alpine meadows, our classification quickly management, and geographic information systems. became the primary source for natural community NY Natural Heritage maintains New York’s most classification in New York and a fundamental reference comprehensive database on the status and location of for natural community classifications in the northeastern rare species and natural communities.
  • Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird and Brown Thrasher

    Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird and Brown Thrasher

    Wildlife Note — 51 LDR0103 Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird and Brown Thrasher by Chuck Fergus Gray Catbird These three species are among the most vocal of our birds. All belong to Family Mimidae, the “mimic thrushes,” or “mimids,” and they often imitate the calls of other spe- cies, stringing these remembered vocalizations into long, variable songs. Family Mimidae has more than 30 spe- cies, which are found only in the New World, with most inhabiting the tropics. The mimids have long tails and short, rounded wings. The three species in the Northeast are solitary (living singly, in pairs and in family groups rather than in flocks), feed mainly on the ground and in shrubs, and generally eat insects in summer and fruits in winter. The sexes look alike. Adults are preyed upon by owls, hawks, foxes and house cats, and their nests may be raided by snakes, blue jays, crows, grackles, raccoons, opossums and squirrels. Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) — The gray cat- bird is eight to nine inches long, smaller and more slen- der than a robin, an overall dark gray with a black cap Beetles, ants, caterpillars, and chestnut around the vent. Individuals often jerk their grasshoppers, crickets and other insects tails — up, down, and in circles. The species is named are common foodstuffs. Catbirds often forage on the for its mewling call, although catbirds also deliver other ground, using their bills to flick aside leaves and twigs sounds. They migrate between breeding grounds in the while searching for insects. eastern two-thirds of North America and wintering ar- Although not as talkative as the northern mocking- eas in the coastal Southeast and Central America.
  • Fire and Animal Behavior

    Fire and Animal Behavior

    Proceedings: 9th Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference 1969 Komarek, E.v. 1969. Fire and animal behavior. Pages 160-207 in E.V. Komarek (conference chariman). Proceedings Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference: No.9. Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference. 9. Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, FL. Fire and Animal Behavior E. V. KOMAREK, SR. Tall Ti'mbers Researcb Station Tallabassee, Florida , THE REACTIONS and relationships of animals to fire, the charcoal black burn, the straw-colored and later the green vegetation certainly attracted the attention of primitive man and his ancestors. In "Fire-and the Ecology of iV'lan" I proposed that man himself is the product of a fire environment-"pre-'man prirrtates as well as early Ulan inhabited fire environrnents and had to be 'fire­ selected' ... to live in such environments." (Komarek, 1967). Therefore, man's ultimate survival, as had been true with other ani­ mals that live in fire environments, depends upon a proper under­ standing of fire and the relationships of animals and plants to this element. 1V10dern literature, particularly in the United States, has been so saturated with the reputed dangers of forest fires to animals that he has developed a deep seated fear of all fires in nature. In this nation, the average individual is only beginning to realize the proper place of fire and fire control in forest, grassland and field. Unfortunately, much knowledge on fire and animal behavior that was common in­ formation to the American Indian, pioneers, and early farm and ranch people has been lost though in some parts of the ·world a large body of this knowledge still exists.
  • 2020 Indiana Bird List

    2020 Indiana Bird List

    2020 INDIANA BIRD LIST Kingdom – ANIMALIA ORDER: Cathartiformes Larks (Alaudidae) New World Vultures (Cathartidae) Horned Lark Phylum – CHORDATA Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura Subphylum – VERTEBRATA ORDER: Gruiformes Swallows (Hirundinidae) Class - AVES Rails, Gallinules, and Coots (Rallidae) Purple Martin Family Group (Family Name) American Coot Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Common Name [Scientific name Chickadees and Titmice (Paridae) is in italics] ORDER: Charadriiformes Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor ORDER: Anseriformes Lapwings and Plovers (Charadriidae) Nuthatches (Sittidae) Ducks, Geese, and Swans (Anatidae) Killdeer Charadrius vociferus Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis Snow Goose Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies Wrens (Troglodytidae) Canada Goose Branta canadensis (Scolopacidae) Wood Duck Aix sponsa Carolina Wren Spotted Sandpiper Kinglets (Regulidae) Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers (Laridae) Golden-crowned Kinglet Ring-billed Gull Ruby-crowned Kinglet ORDER: Galliformes Herring Gull Larus argentatus Partridges, Grouse, Turkeys, and Old Thrushes (Turdidae) Eastern Bluebird World Quail (Phasianidae) ORDER: Columbiformes *Ring-necked Pheasant Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae) American Robin Turdus migratorius Mockingbirds and Thrashers (Mimidae) Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos Northern Bobwhite ORDER: Strigiformes Typical Owls (Strigidae) Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum ORDER: Gaviiformes Great
  • Curve-Billed Thrasher and Bendire's Thrasher

    Curve-Billed Thrasher and Bendire's Thrasher

    THE PRACTICED EYE by Kenn Kaufman and Rick Bowers Photographsby Rick Bowers Curve-billed Thrasher and Bendire's Thrasher for their deeply sickle-shapedbills: billed Thrashersare often among the California Thrasher (Toxostomaredi- most conspicuousbirds in their habi- vivum), Crissal Thrasher (Toxostoma tats. Their loud whit-wheet/ call is crissale), and Le Conte's Thrasher heardin a wide variety of deserttypes, T HOMEIN THEDRY COUNTRY OF (Toxostomalecontei). Ironically, the from saguaro-palo verde associations theWest and Southwest are half bird officially known as the Curve- in Arizona to Texas thom scrub, and a dozen speciesof big ground- billed Thrasher (Toxostoma cur- even in many residential neighbor- foragingsongbirds known as thrashers. virostre) shows less curvature to the hoods.An importantfactor seems to be Their loud and rich songsoften make bill than any of the precedingtrio. Its the presenceof cholla cactus,the pre- them conspicuousto the ear, but they bill is curvedjust a little too muchfor a ferrednest site of the species. areusually less apparent to the eye: not "normal" bird. The main challengein Although Bendire'sThrasher is of- only do they wear subtlesandy browns identifying the Curve-billed Thrasher ten found side by side with its Curve- (the colorsof desertsoil), but they also is separating it from an essentially billed cousin,their habitatpreferences tend to hide in whatever cover is avail- straight-billedbird, Bendire'sThrasher are not identical. Bendire's seems to able. (Toxostomabendirei). This "Practiced avoid mosthilly country,and is absent When scientistswere first naming Eye" looksat the distinctionsbetween from many desertfoothill areaswhere these birds, they threw us a curve. thesetwo subtlesongsters.
  • 2020-2021 NEBRASKA BIRD LIST See Science Olympiad General Rules, Eye Protection & Other Policies on As They Apply to Every Event

    2020-2021 NEBRASKA BIRD LIST See Science Olympiad General Rules, Eye Protection & Other Policies on As They Apply to Every Event

    2020-2021 NEBRASKA BIRD LIST See Science Olympiad General Rules, Eye Protection & other Policies on www.soinc.org as they apply to every event Kingdom – ANIMALIA ORDER: Pelecaniformes ORDER: Gruiformes Pelicans (Pelecanidae) Rails, Gallinules, and Coots (Rallidae) Phylum – CHORDATA American White Pelican Pelecanus Clapper Rail Rallus longirostris Subphylum – VERTEBRATA erythrorhynchos Sora Bitterns, Herons, and Allies Purple Gallinule Class - AVES (Ardeidae) American Coot Family Group (Family Name) American Bittern Cranes (Gruidae) Common Name Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias Sandhill Crane Antigone canadensis [Scientific name is in italics] Snowy Egret Egretta thula Whooping Crane Grus americana Green Heron ORDER: Anseriformes Black-crowned Night-heron ORDER: Charadriiformes Ducks, Geese, and Swans (Anatidae) Ibises and Spoonbills Lapwings and Plovers (Charadriidae) Black-bellied Whistling-duck (Threskiornithidae) American Golden-Plover Snow Goose Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja Piping Plover Charadrius melodus Canada Goose Branta canadensis Killdeer Charadrius vociferus Trumpeter Swan ORDER: Suliformes Oystercatchers (Haematopodidae) Wood Duck Aix sponsa Cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae) American Oystercatcher Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Double-crested Cormorant Stilts and Avocets (Recurvirostridae) Northern Shoveler Phalacrocorax auritus Black-necked Stilt Green-winged Teal Darters (Anhingida) American Avocet Recurvirostra Canvasback Anhinga Anhinga anhinga americana Hooded Merganser Frigatebirds (Fregatidae) Sandpipers, Phalaropes,
  • Of Bendire's Thrasher

    Of Bendire's Thrasher

    BREEDING HABITAT REQUIREMENTS AND TERRITORY SIZE OF BENDIRE’S THRASHER (Toxostoma bendirei) Photo taken by Cody Bear Sutton Hildago Co, New Mexico Final Report to New Mexico Department of Game & Fish Martha J. Desmond (Principal Investigator) Cody Bear Sutton (Graduate Student) Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 880 BREEDING HABITAT REQUIREMENTS AND TERRITORY SIZE OF BENDIRE’S THRASHER (Toxostoma bendirei) TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................................................3 METHODS ......................................................................................................................................6 Study Area ........................................................................................................................6 Breeding Surveys .............................................................................................................7 Territory Mapping ............................................................................................................9 Abiotic/temporal Measurements ....................................................................................10 Territory Scale Measurements .......................................................................................10 Landscape Scale Measurements .....................................................................................11 DATA ANALYSIS .........................................................................................................................12
  • Thrasher

    Thrasher

    . S. ENGLAND AND W. F. LAUDENSLAYER, JR. Toxostoma bendirei SPANISI{: C~litll~coclreSorlorer~sc, C~ritlncocltrPiqriicc~rto Ri~a+: Thrasher !< .,, Mrrquiwr rLv Ikrriliri* i endire's Thrasher was the last thrasher described for mainland North America. BMajor Charles E. Bendire collected the first specimen in 1872 near Camp Lowell, now downtown Tucson, Arizona. Although Bendire recognized this as a new species (he Lad heard its song and found its nest), Robert Ridgway when presented with this first specimen did not. He believed it to be a female Curve-billed Thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostre), and Elliott Coues was not sure (Coues 1873).Thus, beginning with the first specimen, our under~tanddir;~of tGs species has been clouded by confusion with similar species, by its miptojwanderings, by its rathe; secretive behavior, and by the meager number of observers that work in its desert hakitats. Much of our limited knowledge about this species is derived from anecdoial information on nesting, distribution, and food habits collected in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Bendire's Thrashers forage primarily on the ground, probing ihe soil for rhe insects and occasionally plucking insects and fruit Birds of from vegetation. They generally inhabit sparse desert habitats in thk America southwestern United States t Life Histories for and northwestern Mexico, the 21st Century although within this range their distribution is spotty and, in some areas, sdl Breeding and year-round range of Bendire's poorly understood. ~hlikeother southwestern Thrasher. In winter, northern breeders retreat ~oxos~ornathrashers, they leave the northern south and overlap with residents. Boundaries portion of their breeding range in winter, a season shown here are substantiated by specimens and when wanderers sometimes appear at repeated observations.