Flock characteristics of ant-following birds in premontane moist forest and coffee agroecosystems
We studied avian attendance at swarms of Eciton burchelli and Labidus praedator (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ecitoninae) over 5-mo periods in both 1996 and 1997, at elevations between 1400 m and 1800 m in western Panama. We conducted area searches for swarms of raiding ants and attendant birds in intact forest, traditional shade coffee habitats both adjacent to and distant from forest, and in sun coffee habitats, quantifying the size and composition of attendant flocks. All habitats except sun coffee supported numerous army ant swarms and thus a diverse assemblage of ant-following birds. A total of 411 swarming occasions attracted 126 bird species of 28 families. Of the 103 resident species, two were obligate ant-following birds, the Ruddy Woodcreeper (Dendrocincla homochroa) and the Gray-headed Tanager (Eucometris penicillata). Of the remaining species, 18 were wintering Nearctic migrants, and five were transient Nearctic migrants. Nearctic migrant species composed a greater percentage of the attendant species in shade coffee habitats as compared to forest.
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Texto biblioteca |
| Language: | eng |
| Subjects: | Hormigas, Labidus praedator, Eciton burchelliand, Aves, Dendrocincla homochroa, Eucometris penicillata, Hábitat (Ecología), Cafetal, Paisajes fragmentados, Agroecosistemas, |
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