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Abstract: The breeding of some species of Dendrocolaptidae
and Furnariidae in the central Monte desert, Argentina.
Different aspects about the breeding of seven bird species belonging
to the families Dendrocolaptidae and Furnariidae that nest in the
Reserve of Ñacuñán (Mendoza Province), central Monte Desert, are
presented. The laying period of Drymornis bridgesii and five
species of Furnariidae spanned from early October to mid January.
The duration of this period was 12.5 months. Cranioleuca
pyrrhophia, Asthenes baeri and Synallaxis albescens
built their closed nests in 58 days. Leptasthenura platensis
usually nested in abandoned nests of other ovenbirds (A. baeri
and C. pyrrhophia) and Rhinocrypta lanceolata. C.
pyrrhophia, A. baeri, S. albescens and L. platensis
selected chañar (Geoffroea decorticans) trees larger than
those available in the habitat for nesting. Mean clutch size was
3 eggs in D. bridgesii and L. platensis, 2.9 and 2.7
eggs in C. pyrrhophia and S. albescens, respectively,
and 5 eggs in A. baeri. The size and weight of L. platensis
eggs tended to be smaller than in other Argentinean breeding areas.
The incubation period lasted between 14 and 15.5 days in those species
in which this parameter could be measured (D. bridgesii,
C. pyrrhophia, A. baeri and L. platensis).
The chicks of D. bridgesii remained 21 days in the nest and
those of C. pyrrhophia left the nest in 1315 days.
The observed predation patterns in the closed nests of several ovenbirds
species suggest that Milvago chimango may be an important
predator of these nests in Ñacuñán.
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