Home range of Cistothorus platensis (Aves: Troglodytidae) in the Brazilian Cerrado

ABSTRACT The Sedge Wren Cistothorus platensis (Latham, 1790) is a widely distributed bird species, occurring in natural grasslands through the American continent. Most knowledge on its biology has been obtained in temperate regions, and no information on its home range in tropical grasslands is available. The goal of this study was to examine the home ranges of Sedge Wrens at the Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Veadeiros, central Cerrado, Brazil. Fourteen banded males were studied in a patch of shrubby grassland (campo sujo) between February and December 2008. The mean size of home ranges of five males monitored during the whole period was 6.10 ± 2.09 ha (Minimum Convex Polygon) and 4.57 ± 1.92 ha (Kernel 95%). Home ranges were larger in the dry season (non-breeding period) than in the rainy season (that encompassed both the breeding and non-breeding periods). The overlap between home ranges of neighboring males was small. Sedge Wrens did not establish home ranges on recently burned grasslands. Five banded males were recorded during the entire study period, suggesting the existence of resident individuals. Nine of the 14 males did not persist in the same site throughout the year. There was no evidence of polygyny, as only lone birds or pairs were detected. Our study indicates that Sedge Wrens inhabiting grasslands of the Cerrado are monogamous and have larger home ranges than in temperate regions.