First systematic nesting record of the Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) in a high-Andean wetland of the Bogotá Highland Plateau

Fernando  Castro-Vargas; Darwin  Ortega-Chamorro

doi:10.59517/oc.e643

Authors

Fernando Castro-Vargas Fundación Parque Jaime Duque. Tocancipá, Colombia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0744-3114
Darwin Ortega-Chamorro Fundación Parque Jaime Duque. Tocancipá, Colombia https://orcid.org/0009-0009-4643-6479

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59517/oc.e643

Keywords:

Anatidae, embryonic mortality, high-Andean wetland, nesting habitat, reproductive phenology

Abstract

Spatula discors is a migratory waterfowl whose breeding has historically been restricted to temperate regions of North America and that has traditionally been considered a non-breeding species in South America. However, observations in the Bogotá Highland Plateau have shown reproductive behavior in high-Andean wetlands, suggesting a recent expansion of its breeding range. This study presents the first systematic record of S. discors nesting in Colombia, aiming to characterize its reproductive ecology in a high-Andean wetland undergoing ecological restoration at an elevation of 2,570 m. Between 2018 and 2021, periodic monitoring was carried out to search for nests and conduct monthly population censuses. These observations allowed the description of the ecological context of nesting sites, the dominant vegetation, and the differential use of aquatic habitats throughout the year. The results reaffirm the permanent presence of S. discors in the Bogotá Highland Plateau and demonstrate a sustained process of reproductive establishment, in which the species uses habitats characterized by dense vegetation and open water bodies. This information contributes to understanding how an originally migratory species has adapted to high-Andean conditions, possibly favored by the availability of restored habitats and the reduction of competition with other wetland duck species. This record provides key information on the ecological plasticity and adaptive capacity of S. discors in high-Andean environments.

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