Nest-site characteristics of Rufous-naped Wrens (Campylorhynchus rufinucha) in Acacia trees may serve to avoid vertebrate predators
Características de sitios de los nidos de Campylorhynchus rufinucha en árboles de Acacia posiblemente sirven para evadir depredación por vertebrados
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59517/oc.e310Keywords:
Acacia collinsii, anidación, Campylorhynchus rufinucha, Cebus capucinus, Costa Rica, PseudomyrmexAbstract
The high rate of nest predation in tropical birds results in strong selection pressure. The Rufous-naped
Wren (Campylorhynchus rufinucha) nests in Bullhorn trees (Acacia) in the Mesoamerican dry forest. It
has been proposed that bullhorns and their aggressive ants (Pseudomyrmex spp.) help to prevent nest
predation. I tested the hypothesis that these birds place their nests in particular acacia micro-habitats to
avoid predation by vertebrates such as tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus). I expected to find
nests in locations that avoided the foraging behavior preferences of the monkeys. Along 6 km gravel road
in Palo Verde National Park, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, I found 52 Rufous-naped Wren nests. The
proportion of ant species in acacias with nests did not differ from the background proportion of ant species
in acacias without nests, so birds did not prefer to nest in acacias with the most aggressive ant species.
Acacia trees with wren nests were larger in diameter than control acacias without nests. I found more nests
in acacias that were clustered, which consisted of one to five acacias in a 3m radius plot around the acacia
with nest. However, the number of acacias with or without nests did not differ in their isolation from other
non-acacia trees. Finally, more nests were in unexposed sites within the tree, such as at the base of
branches or in the topmost branches, compared with exposed sites such as outer branches. Therefore, the
Rufous-naped Wren seemed to place the nest in particular trees and places within them, in sites that may
decrease the probability access by a vertebrate such as C. capucinus to depredate their eggs and nestlings.
Rufous-naped Wren nest site selection may also be influenced by other factors such as mechanical support
for the weight of the nest, eggs, nestlings and adults.
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