Notas sobre la historia natural del coclí (Theristicus caudatus, Threskiornithidae) en el suroeste de Colombia

Notes on the natural history of the Buff-necked Ibis (Theristicus caudatus, Threskiornithidae) in southwestern Colombia

Abstract

I describe several aspects of the feeding and breeding behavior, inter- and intraspecific relationships, and vocalizations of the Buff-necked Ibis (Theristicus caudatus) based on observations at the El Hatico Natural Reserve, Valle del Cauca, Colombia, from June 2006 through February 2007. Buff-necked Ibises fed on arthropods, mainly insects, and mostly foraged in open habitats like silvopastoral systems and sugar cane fields. They preferred palms for day-time and night roosting, although they occasionally used trees. Copulations and carrying of nest material were recorded in January, and two nests with eggs, both in palms, were found in February. Both adults incubated the eggs and fed the young. Although there is no conspicuous sexual dichromatism, gender may be determined by size, behavior, and voice; I also found subtle plumage differences. Buff-necked Ibises mainly forage in pairs or small groups, but as many as 18 individuals may congregate to spend the night. The continued presence of the Buffnecked ibis at El Hatico shows the importance of sound soil use and vegetation management for the conservation of this species.