Breeding records of Leptotila rufaxilla (Aves: Columbidae) in southwestern Brazilian Amazon with notes on nesting in some regions of occurrence

Abstract

We present new aspects of breeding biology of Gray-fronted Dove Leptotila rufaxilla, from five nests found between 2012 and 2014 in a lowland forest fragment in southwestern Brazil. The nests simple/platform shape were built at a mean height of 1.90 m above ground. The clutch size was two eggs white and elliptic, incubated for 15 days (based on three nests). We recorded predation in two nests still in incubation phase. Minimum hatch weight of nestlings was 10 g and young fledged with a mean mass of 56 g. The constant growth rate (K) of nestlings was 0.40 with a growth asymptote of 60.7 g. Daily survival rate, Mayfield and apparent nesting success in the incubation period was 90, 20 and 56%, respectively, while in the nestling period were all 100%. Our data and the contribution of citizen science showed that L. rufaxilla breeds over the year, mainly in the rainy season, both in southwestern Amazonia and in other regions of occurrence.

Full Issue

“…The species tends to breed at the start of, and during, the rainy season (Lima et al 2021), agreeing with our observations. The nest and eggs also agreed with the literature (Oniki & Willis 1983, Bodrati & Salvador 2013b, Lima et al 2021.…”

“…The species tends to breed at the start of, and during, the rainy season (Lima et al 2021), agreeing with our observations. The nest and eggs also agreed with the literature (Oniki & Willis 1983, Bodrati & Salvador 2013b, Lima et al 2021. Although the species is common in forest habitats, nests are frequently located near clearings, roads and in plantations (Oniki & Willis 1983, Lima et al 2021, which may explain why a riverbank was chosen.…”

“…Compared to the previous species, much less is known about the breeding ecology, with most publications containing only anecdotal information, from both outside (Penard & Penard 1908, Chubb 1916, Young 1928, Belcher & Smooker 1936, Hellebrekers 1942, Haverschmidt 1972, Ingels 1976, ffrench 1980, Tostain 1989, Haverschmidt & Mees 1994, Bodrati & Salvador 2013b, Bulgarella & Heimpel 2015, Rivero et al 2018, de la Peña 2019 and inside Brazil (Euler 1900, Ihering 1900, Snethlage 1935a, Pinto 1953, Oniki 1978, Oniki & Willis 1983, Belton 1984, Sanaiotti & Cintra 2001, Maurício et al 2013, Nacinovic 2018, Lima et al 2021.…”

New breeding information on Brazilian birds. 2: Columbidae and Cuculidae

“…2018, de la Peña 2019) and inside Brazil (Euler 1900, Ihering 1900, Snethlage 1935a, Pinto 1953, Oniki 1978, Oniki & Willis 1983, Belton 1984, Sanaiotti & Cintra 2001, Maurício et al . 2013, Nacinovic 2018, Lima et al . 2021).…”

“…The species tends to breed at the start of, and during, the rainy season (Lima et al . 2021), agreeing with our observations.…”