Gregarious Nesting Behavior of Thick-Billed Parrots (Rhynchopsitta Pachyrhyncha) in Aspen Stands

Monterrubio‐Rico, Tiberio C.; Cruz-Nieto, Javier; Enkerlin‐Hoeflich, Ernesto C.; Venegas-Holguin, Diana; Téllez-García, Lorena; Marin-Togo, Consuelo

doi:10.1676/05-039.1

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 11 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The exceptions are Monk Parakeets, who craft their stick nests and sometimes nest communally in nests with multiple chambers (Navarro et al 1995). Thick-billed Parrots, who have invariant calls, are cavity nesters that will sometimes nest communally in trees that contain more than one suitable cavity and are not agonistic to their neighbours during the breeding season (Monterrubio-Rico et al 2006). …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vocal dialects in parrots: patterns and processes of cultural evolution

Wright

Dahlin

2017

Emu - Austral Ornithology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Vocal dialects have fascinated biologists for over 50 years. This mosaic pattern of geographic variation in learned vocalizations was first described in a songbird, and since that time, most studies investigating dialects have focused on songbird species. Here we examine patterns of geographic variation in the calls of a different group of vocal learning birds, the parrots (Order Psittaciformes). We summarize the growing literature on vocal variation in parrots, and complement this review with a survey of variation in the genus Amazona using calls from sound libraries. We find strikingly similar patterns to those previously found in songbirds. Over 90% of parrots examined in the literature, and 69% of Amazona species surveyed, showed geographic variation consistent with a propensity to share local call types. This trait is evolutionarily labile and widespread; within Amazona most clades contained species with and without geographic variation, and most major lineages of parrots include representatives with dialects. We found little support for the long-standing hypothesis that dialects isolate populations and thus generate genetic differences among populations. Instead, most studies support the idea that dialects are maintained by social benefits of matching local call types, a finding that has implications for the management of captive and endangered populations. Considerable scope remains for studies that experimentally test hypotheses for the exact nature of these benefits, as well as studies that employ comparisons among species, to understand how the interplay between ecology, social dynamics and vocal learning capacities produces different patterns of variation across the parrots.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vocal dialects in parrots: patterns and processes of cultural evolution

Wright

Dahlin

2017

Emu - Austral Ornithology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Since migration of the Thick-billed Parrots involves groups of 12 to over 100 (Schnell et al 1974), and historically, groups as large as 1500 individuals (Wetmore 1935), it is possible that individuals from the different breeding populations intermix during migration. Mixing during migration or on the wintering grounds could reduce vocal differences among populations, particularly if vocalizations help to mediate such social behaviors as flock cohesion during migration, synchronized defense against raptors, the formation of foraging flocks, or sentinel posting during foraging (Lanning and Shiflett 1983, Snyder et al 1994, 1999, Monterrubio-Rico et al 2006). Convergence onto a shared group call type has been shown in winter flocks of Black-capped Chickadees ( Poecile atricapillus; Mammen and Nowicki 1981), and has been suggested as one explanation for the formation of dialects in wintering populations of the Bronzed Cowbirds ( Molothrus aeneus ; Warren 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Its decline has been linked primarily to the loss of these high-elevation old-growth forests through extensive logging (Lanning and Shiflett 1983, Snyder et al 1999, Monterrubio-Rico et al 2004, 2006). To lesser extents, capture for the pet trade and shooting also may have contributed to population declines; neither of these is thought to threaten current populations (Snyder et al 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Limited Geographic Variation in the Vocalizations of the Endangered Thick-Billed Parrot: Implications for Conservation Strategies

Guerra

Cruz-Nieto

Ortiz-Maciel

et al. 2008

Condor

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The populations of many species are declining worldwide, and conservation efforts struggle to keep pace with extinction rates. Conservation biologists commonly employ strategies such as translocation and reintroduction, which move individuals of endangered species from one part of their range to another. Because individuals from endangered populations are nonexpendable, identifying any potential barriers to the establishment of viable populations prior to release of individuals should be a priority. This study evaluates the potential for learned communication signals to constrain conservation strategies such as reintroduction in an endangered species, the Thick-billed Parrot (Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha). We conducted vocal surveys at three geographically distinct breeding populations in the Sierra Madre Occidental of Chihuahua, Mexico. Acoustic analyses utilizing both spectrogram cross-correlations and parameter measurements from spectrograms revealed no significant differences among the three sites in two common call types. Calls did vary among individuals within a site. The apparent lack of significant geographic variation across sampled sites suggests that differences in learned communication signals are unlikely to pose a barrier to the integration of translocated individuals from different populations into newly established populations.

show abstract

“…Fortunately, Thick‐billed Parrots are highly social and, when nesting, up to 20 pairs may be found in a 4.5‐ha area (Monterrubio‐Rico et al ). In the absence of areas with available tree cavities, areas with the highest diversity of large pines, firs, and snags should be selected for placement of nest boxes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To identify areas that currently provide suitable climates and habitat for Thick‐billed and Maroon‐fronted parrots, we used data from published sources (Lanning and Shiftlet , Lammertink et al , Macías‐Caballero , Monterrubio‐Rico , Monterrubio‐Rico and Enkerlin‐Hoeflich , b, Monterrubio‐Rico et al ) as well as databases such as SNIB‐CONABIO (Sistema Nacional de Información sobre Biodiversidad, Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad) that contained 202 records for Thick‐billed Parrots and 54 records for Maroon‐fronted Parrots. All SNIB records came from four studies that included both more current (within the last 20 yr) and historic records (Enkerlin‐Hoeflich , Navarro‐Sigüenza ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current and future habitat availability for Thick-billed and Maroon-fronted parrots in northern Mexican forests

2015

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Thick-billed Parrots (Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha) and Maroon-fronted Parrots (Rhynchopsitta terrisi) are the only parrots in Mexico found in high-elevation coniferous forests. Both species are critically endangered due to logging, and climate change is expected to further reduce their available habitat. Our objectives were to assess the present and future availability of a suitable habitat for these parrots using ecological niche models. Future climatic scenarios were estimated by overlaying the present distributions of these parrots on maps of projected biome distributions generated using a North American vegetation model. Our climatic scenarios revealed that the distribution of key habitats for both parrots will likely be affected as the climate becomes more suitable for xeric biomes. The climate associated with coniferous forests in the current range of Maroon-fronted Parrots is predicted to disappear by 2090, and the climate associated with the key coniferous habitats of Thick-billed Parrots may contract. However, our results also indicate that suitable climatic conditions will prevail for the high-elevation coniferous biomes where Thick-billed Parrots nest. The degree to which both species of parrots will be able to adapt to the new scenarios is uncertain. Some of their life history traits may allow them to respond with a combination of adaptive and spatial responses to climatic change and, in addition, suitable climatic conditions will prevail in some portions of their ranges. Actions needed to ensure the conservation of these parrots include strict control of logging and integration of rapid response teams for fire management within the potential foraging ranges of nesting pairs. A landscape with a greater proportion of restored forests would also aid in the recovery of current populations of Thick-billed and Maroon-fronted parrots and facilitate their responses to climate change.

show abstract

Gregarious Nesting Behavior of Thick-Billed Parrots (Rhynchopsitta Pachyrhyncha) in Aspen Stands

Cited by 11 publications

References 11 publications

Vocal dialects in parrots: patterns and processes of cultural evolution

Vocal dialects in parrots: patterns and processes of cultural evolution

Limited Geographic Variation in the Vocalizations of the Endangered Thick-Billed Parrot: Implications for Conservation Strategies

Current and future habitat availability for Thick-billed and Maroon-fronted parrots in northern Mexican forests

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About