Tamaño y ubicación de los nidos del totorero Phleocryptes melanops en el lago Titicaca

Abstract

Nest size and location of the Wren-like Rushbird Phleocryptes melanops in Lake TiticacaThe Wren-like Rushbird Phleocryptes melanops is a resident bird in the Lake Titicaca wetlands, where it nests in stands of the cattail Schoenoplectus californicus. The aim of this study was to describe the morphology and location of this rushbird's nests by analyzing their vertical height above the water level and the relationship in size between height and width of the nests. Data collection was carried out at Lake Titicaca between November 2020 and February 2021. A total of 56 nests were recorded in an area of 2.29 km 2 . Nests were found 10-120 cm above the water surface. Nest height (7-28 cm) and nest width (4-11.50 cm) had a quadratic correlation indicating that height is relatively more flexible than width in nest size. The spatial distribution of the nests, their vertical height above the water surface and the relationship between nest height and width in Lake Titicaca varied in terms of the size and cover of the cattails.