BIOLOGÍA REPRODUCTIVA DEL PICAPALO COLORADO (CAMPYLORHAMPHUS TROCHILIROSTRIS) Y EL PICAPALO OSCURO (C. FALCULARIUS) EN ARGENTINA

Abstract

Reproductive biology of the Red-billed Scythebill (Campylorhamphus trochilirostris) and Black-billed Scythebill (C. falcularius) in Argentina. – The genus Campylorhamphus (Furnariidae: Dendrocolaptinae) is poorly known in terms of natural history and reproduction. Here we describe aspects of reproduction from three nests of the Red-billed Scythebill (Campylorhamphus trochilirostris) in the Chaco of Argentina, and from one nest of the Black-billed Scythebill (C. falcularius) in the Atlantic Forest of Argentina. One of the nests of C. trochilirostris was in a cavity excavated by a woodpecker. The remaining nests were in cavities formed by natural decay. Both species had a clutch size of two. Two adults participated in incubation at each nest, bringing pieces of bark when they entered the cavity. Incubation bouts were 50 ± 3 min (mean ± SE) for C. trochilirostris (n = 3) and 57 ± 13 min for C. falcularius (n = 8). The nest of C. falcularius was depredated during the incubation period. In C. trochilirostris both adults delivered arthropods to nestlings and removed fecal sacs. They brought food on average 5.8 times/h and removed fecal sacs 2.5 times/h when the nestlings were feathered. Campylorhamphus should be included among the genera of Dendrocolaptinae with biparental care, along with Dendrocolaptes, Xiphocolaptes, Dendroplex, and Lepidocolaptes, but in contrast to Dendrocincla, Xiphorhynchus, and Sittasomus.