Breeding behavior of the Helmeted Manakin Antilophia galeata (Passeriformes: Pipridae) in a gallery forest from São Paulo state, Brazil

ABSTRACT Information on the breeding biology of most Neotropical birds, and interpopulation comparisons, are insufficient. The Helmeted Manakin, Antilophia galeata (Lichtenstein, 1823), is a forest understory passerine commonly found in the gallery forests of the tropical savanna-like Cerrado biome. We provide information about the nesting phenology, nesting cycle, nests, eggs, nestlings, and nest-site characteristics of a population of the Helmeted Manakin in the state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. During two breeding seasons we found 16 active, and 30 inactive nests. Breeding activities occurred from mid- August to mid- January, and nests were constructed in bushes and saplings in the forest’s understory, 0.45-3.48 m above ground (1.56 ± 0.66 m). Clutch size was two eggs, which were laid in intervals of one to three days. Three remarkable patterns of interclutch egg color and marking variations were observed. The incubation period of two nests was 18 and 19 days, and nestling periods were 16.3 ± 0.6 days (16-17 days, n = 3 nests). The apparent nest survival of 11 thoroughly monitored nests was 36.4%. In addition to the first description of the interclutch egg pattern variations, the following information differs from previous literature data: egg laying interval and nestling periods. Our data contribute to the overall knowledge of the variations in breeding parameters of the Helmeted Manakin.

摘要：多数新热带区鸟类的繁殖生物学资料及种群间对比研究均较为匮乏。盔侏儒鸟（Helmeted Manakin，学名Antilophia galeata，Lichtenstein, 1823）为林下层雀形目鸟类，常见于热带稀树草原型塞拉多（Cerrado）生物群落的长廊林中。我们针对巴西东南部圣保罗州的盔侏儒鸟种群，报道了其繁殖物候、繁殖周期、巢穴、卵、雏鸟及巢位特征。在两个繁殖季内，共记录到16个活跃巢与30个非活跃巢。该种群的繁殖活动始于8月中旬，延续至次年1月中旬；巢穴建于林下层的灌丛与幼树上，离地高度介于0.45~3.48米之间（平均值±标准差：1.56±0.66米）。窝卵数为2枚，产卵间隔为1至3天。研究中观测到3种显著的窝间卵色与斑纹变异模式。对2个巢穴的孵化期分别为18天与19天，雏鸟留巢期为16.3±0.6天（范围16~17天，样本量n=3）。对11个全程监测的巢穴的显性巢存活率为36.4%。除首次报道窝间卵斑变异模式外，本次研究得到的产卵间隔与雏鸟留巢期数据也与既往文献记载存在差异。本研究数据有助于完善盔侏儒鸟繁殖参数变异的整体认知。