Comportamento reprodutivo do tangará-dançarino, Chiroxiphia Caudata (aves Pipridae) em uma área de Mata Atlântica

Abstract

The family Pipridae is endemic to the Neotropics, having frugivorous habits. Males of some species make complex sexual displays to attract the females, and they live in the middle stratum of tropical forests. Of 51 species, 29 have their nests described, five have incubation periods descriptions, and six have nestling periods reported. The Blue Manakin, Chiroxiphia caudata, is common in humid and secondary forests of southeastern Brazil, northeastern Argentina and eastern Paraguay and its breeding biology is poorly documented. Here analyzed 36 active nests in two breeding seasons (2013/2014 and 2014/2015) in a well-preserved Brazilian Atlantic Forest continuum. Nests were swallow cups hung by their rims in horizontal forks, built in bushes or saplings, over or near forest streams. Reproductive activities were recorded from October to February and clutch sizes were invariably two eggs. Incubation period was 18 days, and nestling period was 15 - 16 days. Estimated overall nesting success, from egg-laying to fledging, was 40%, being higher than most studies on piprids that have been conducted in disturbed habitats. Our data give support to the theory that in the Pipridae family only females provide parental care.