The nest, eggs, and nesting success of the Ecuadorian Thrush (Turdus maculirostris) in southwest Ecuador: El nido, los huevos y el éxito reproductivo del Mirlo Ecuatoriano (Turdus maculirostris) en el suroeste de Ecuador

Harold F. Greeney

doi:10.59517/oc.e234

Authors

Harold F. Greeney Yanayacu Biological Station and Center for Creative Studies, Cosanga, c/o 721 Foch y Amazonas, Quito, Ecuador

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59517/oc.e234

Keywords:

egg, nest success, predation, Turdus maculirostris, water loss

Abstract

The Ecuadorian Thrush (Turdus maculirostris) is a common bird inhabiting disturbed areas in the lowlands of western Ecuador. I studied 17 nests of this species in southwestern Ecuador and present the first available data on its eggs, incubation and nestling periods, and nesting success. Nests were placed from 0.5 to 6 m above the ground and were mud and moss cups typical of the genus. Eggs varied in color from deep turquoise to dull greenish blue and showed variation in the degree of maculation. Mean egg measurements were 27.8 ± 2.0 mm by 20.9 ± 0.7 mm and mean fresh mass, 6.5 ± 0.7 g. Eggs lost 0.55 ± 0.12% of their original mass/day during incubation. Incubation lasted 12 days, nestlings fledged after 14 days and predicted nesting success was 34%.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

AR, A., & H. RAHN. 1980. Water in the avian egg: overall budget of incubation. American Zoologist 20:373-384.

AUER, S. K, R. D. BASSAR, J. J. FONTAINE, & T. E. MARTIN. 2007. Breeding biology of passerines in a subtropical montane forest in northwestern Argentina. Condor 109:321-333.

BEST, B. J., M. CHECKER, R. M. THEWLIS, A. L. BEST, & W. DUCKWORTH. 1996. New breeding bird data from Southwestern Ecuador. Ornitología Neotropical 7:69–73.

COLLAR, N. J. 2003. Family Turdidae (Thrushes). Pp. 514-807 in del Hoyo, J., A. Elliot, & D. A. Christie (Eds.). Handbook of the birds of the World. Volume 10. Cuckoo-shrikes to thrushes. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.

DOBBS, R. C., P. R. MARTIN, C. BATISTA, H. MONTAG, & H. F. GREENEY. 2003. Notes on egg laying, incubation and nestling care in Scaled Antpitta Grallaria guatimalensis. Cotinga 19:65-70.

GREENEY, H. F., P. R. MARTIN, R. C. DOBBS, R. A. GELIS, A. D. L. BÜCKER, & H. MONTAG. 2008. Nesting ecology of the Spectacled Whitestart (Myioborus melanocephalus) in Ecuador. Ornitología Neotropical 19:335-344.

GREENEY, H. F., & K. HALUPKA. 2008. Nesting biology of the Andean Solitaire (Myadestes ralloides) in northeastern Ecuador. Ornitología Neotropical: 19:213-219.

HALUPKA, K. & H. F. GREENEY. 2009. Breeding biology of Pale-eyed Thrushes (Turdus leucops) in the cloud forest of northeastern Ecuador. Ornitología Neotropical 20:381-389.

HILTY, S. L., & W. L. BROWN. 1986. A guide to the birds of Colombia. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey.

JOHNSON, D. H. 1979. Estimating nest success: the Mayfield method and an alternative. Auk 96:651-661.

MARTIN, P. R., & H. F. GREENEY. 2006. Description of the nest, eggs, and nestling period of the Chestnut-crowned Antpitta Grallaria ruficapilla from the eastern Ecuadorian Andes. Cotinga 25:47-49.

MARTIN, T. E. 1995. Avian life history evolution in relation to nest sites, nest predation, and food. Ecological Monographs 65:101-127.

MAYFIELD, H. F. 1975. Suggestions for calculating nest success. Wilson Bulletin 87:456-466.

MORTON, E. S. 1971. Nest predation affecting the breeding season of the Clay-colored Robin, a tropical song bird. Science 171:920-921.

MORTON, E. S. 1983. Turdus grayi. Págs. 610-611 in D. H. Janzen (ed.). Costa Rican Natural History. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois.

RICKLEFS, R. E. 1969. Analysis of nesting mortality in birds. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 9:1-48.

RIDGELY, R. S., & P. J. GREENFIELD. 2001. The birds of Ecuador. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York.

ROBINSON, W. D., T. R. ROBINSON, S. K. ROBINSON, & J. D. BRAWN. 2000. Nesting success of understory forest birds in central Panama. Journal of Avian Biology 31:151-164.