Observations on Plush-Capped Finches in the Andes with a

GENERAL
NOTES
145
by each species also varied considerably with road type and distance from the road
(Fig. 1). (Two large, migrating flocks of red-wings found in the 44%500 m distance
range were not included in Fig. 1.) The increased abundance of red-wings near interstate highways was associated with the wide right-of-way which included lo-15 m of
bluegrass (Pea pratensis), often with shrubs or small trees.
In central Illinois, as in much of the midwest, most privately owned land is intensely
cultivated. Nesting success of red-wings is partially determined by the availability of
sturdy nest support sites early in the year (Orians, Ecol. Monogr. 31:285-312, 1961;
Goddard and Board, Wilson Bull. 79:283-289, 1967), and although row crops probably
are excellent feeding grounds for blackbirds, they certainly do not provide suitable nest
supports until late in the year. The existence of right-of-way zones with extensive grass
habitat and scattered shrubs should enhance nesting success and increase population
density of red-wings. Water did not seem to be a factor, as our roadside transects did
not include areas of water, even adjacent to interstates. Observed variation in density is
consistent with this expectation. Uncultivated land adjacent to county roads is often no
more than 2-3 m wide and is less likely to provide suitable nest supports, and populations
of red-wings along county roads were much lower than along interstate highways.
The Horned Lark nests on bare ground, and cultivation of land formerly heavily
vegetated has allowed this species to increase in numbers (Graber and Graber, Bull. Ill.
Nat. Hist. Surv. 28(3) :477-478, 504, 1963). Horned Larks seem to be most common
in large expanses of open ground well away from other habitat types. This may account
for low densities of Horned Larks in plots adjacent to highways. Alternatively, highway
noise may affect them, perhaps by interfering with vocal communications. Our data do
not allow testing of these hypotheses.
Data presented here demonstrate that highways affect abundance of bird species and
that the effect varies with species, highway type, season, and distance from the highway.
Future construction programs for highways should consider effects on wildlife, both in
the immediate highway right-of-way and in areas at least up to 500 m from the rightof-way.
This research was a segment of Project #14-16~008-1219
from the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service to the Urban Wildlife Research Center. Funds for this project were
DWIGHT CLARK (DECEASED) AND
provided by the Federal Highway Administration.-W.
JAMES
R. KARR, Dept. of Ecology, Ethology and Evolution, Univ. of Illinois, Champaign,
IL 61820. Accepted 15 Dec. 1977.
W&m
Bull., 91 (l),
1979, pp. 145-148
Observations on Plush-capped
Finches in the Andes with a description of the
juvenal
and immature
plumages.-The
Plush-capped Finch (Catamblyrhynchus
diadema) remains today poorly known and of uncertain taxonomic status despite a
relatively wide geographical range in the Andean highlands from Venezuela to Bolivia.
The only published statements known to us regarding the behavior of this species are
in Van Tyne and Berger (Fundamentals of Ornithology, John Wiley and Sons, 1976)
from Jelski (in Taczanowski, Ornithologie du Pirou, Rennes, France, 3:25, 1886) :
“They are met with in isolated pairs or mingled with flocks of other birds,” and
Goodfellow (Ibis, 8th series, 1:473, 1901) : “We found them l3 $ 8 1 singly in the
higher trees,” and a brief account by Schafer and Phelps (Boletin de la Sot. Venez. de
146
THE
WILSON
Cienc.
Nat.
largely
recounts statements
84:158,
BULLETIN
1954).
Mention
* Vol. 91, No. 1, March
of
Plush-capped
about this species and its current
position
tions by Hilty
Colombia
19721,
were
in Venezuela
and Parker
incidental
I min to more
than
Finches
spp.)
In the Santa
bamboo
treeline
(Chusquea
Pirua
above Canchaque,
Dept.
of
may
occur
Cuzco
1700-1800
somewhat
west
the
m in Parque
in
the
National
wholly
foraging
in tall
restricted
to
grass, shrubby
Plush-capped
Finches
these
short swollen
tugging
bill
stalk
vegetation
are also searched
Silliman
leaf.
A
of
Dept.
them
at
from
m
to
in the Dept.
2400
of
and in the
Plush-capped
have
been
Parrish,
Finches
observed
at
pers. comm.)
Their
in humid
We
stalks
have
also
observed
them
ground
at the
provides
by
the preferred
clinging
upright,
postures
with
the bill
along the bamboo
by fluttering
Bamhoo
motion
vertically,
and flitting
ferns,
and
in restless
or
They
at each node,
stems with
they progress
foliage,
foraging
versatility.
into the axiles of dense leaf whorls
tips.
or
fondness for bam-
and once on bare
bamboo
a short hop or sidling
arching
to be resident
a series
quickly
other
fashion
along
temperate
during
which
take small insect prey from leaf surfaces.
found
bird
Station,
out to the
that
the
(G. Hubbard,
“vegetable
found
of Huanuco,
(C.
grows.
(Parzbs) -like
or running
With
a bamboo
Colombia
forest
They appear to be bamboo specialists but
roadsides,
on bamboo
directly
appear
spp.)
foraging.
Generally
chickadee
vigorously,
motions.
they apparently
of us
Dept.
de Purace,
forest
they
Caracas
Finches
edges along
forage
adopting
of tiny biting
subtropical
comm.)
Venezuela
where
outside
Each
Munchique,
Cordillera
In
when
(Hilty).
sometimes
temperate
in the Dept.
(op. cit.).
bamboo
far from it.
press their
Finches.
here
less than
the species is common in
drainage.
(Chusquea
edge of a road in Colombia
down,
(pers.
Mountains
range
(1971-
reported
from
National
In Peru
of humid
Plush-capped
where the bamboo
site and the species is rarely
upside
varied
on Cerro
T. B. Johnson
El Avila,
boo was noted by Schafer and Phelps
not
Andes
observa-
our work in the Andes.
Andes in Parque
coastal
works
m 30 km west of Caracas.
all the above locations
brushy edge habitats
are
time
slope of the Western
Urubamba
lower
observations
Plush-capped
de San Lorenzo.
understory
recent
in Colombia
from 2600 m in humid
Western
in the Carpish
above
and at 1900-2000
At
sp.)
The
times during
in Colombia
more
the following
Silliman
observation
we observed
Mountains
m on the
at 2900-3050
total
in the Central
Marta
family,
(1972-1977))
many
in the
2200 m and 2775 m on the Cuchillo
the
in a monotypic
our
Finches
Cauca, to 3300 m at treeline
of Cauca.
and
in
In view of the lack of information
are of interest.
15 min each time
Plush-capped
(Chusquea
bamboo
(19741977)
work
We found Plush-capped
with
and
in Peru
to other
has encountered
Finches
made by the above authors.
I979
from
matter”
Santa Marta
the
stomach
of a bird
NO. 82, INDERENA,
Dept.
of Huanaco
in the stomach
collected
in Parque
P opayan)
contained
(D.
and a bird
(S. M. Russell
Tallman,
taken
LSU
at the
and T. B. Johnson,
National
74752)
also
San Lorenzo
UA
de Purace,
small bits of bamboo
contained
Experimental
11161)
had insect
mentioning.
First,
remains
in the stomach.
Two
points
of probing
employed
(Conirostrum
Finches
leaves
a tight
by other
sonneautii),
temperate
regarding
into
which
highland
none
of many
technique
are worth
of stems, leaves, or tight
species, e.g., Streaked
specializes
sitticolor), which
shrubbery.
but
the foraging
clump
in
foraging
may combine
at
rosette
Tuftedcheek
bromeliads,
and
the habit
of leaves is sometimes
(Pseudocolaptes
Blue-backed
probin g and gleaning
bois-
Conebills
movements
in dense
These species and others are often flock associates of Plush-capped
appear
temperate
to
be
bamboo
zone shrubs
in
specialists.
The
small
the
seem
to encourage
tropics
tightly
compressed
the
use of
GENERAL
probing
motions
encounter
when
foraging,
NOTES
a technique
less often
Second,
we speculate
that
of the forecrown
the
short,
dense
are less susceptile
for a species specializing
woody
and sometimes
prickly
might
be effective
almost constantly
contrast
principally
in resisting
dripping
to
in pairs,
reflect
in
whorls
soaking
(op.
are rarely
Venezuela
hoth the tenacity
Foraging
moisture
Plush-capped
songs consisted
uttered
Colombia
Finches
finches
associates
utter
of
by
birds
(M.
that
crown
name)
plumage.
tight,
partially
the plushy
dense leaf
feathers
whorls
that
are
feeding
very
high-pitched
which
they
to 6 m.
(1 time
Peru).
in 22
This
species faithfully
chipping
follow
In quality
1 min.
may
remain
(U.
(Myioborus
Agile
in
Marta
in
unlike
Common
a wren
Colombia,
Mountains;
such
flocking
(Vromyias
(Cinny-
Tit-tyrant
Peru;
In
notes
and arrangement
include:
ornatus)
Santa
not
associates.
and twittering
tanagers.
agraphia)
in the Andes
notes
as flock
chipping
Hemispingus
Tit-tyrant
in Colombia’s
in
foraging
ground
flocks
rarely
Andean
Finches
from
when alone.
soft
several
Finches
flaviverrex)
mixed
of not very musical
of
agilis) in Colombia;
Unstreaked
certhia), Golden-fronted
Redstart
Redstart
common
lax
Plush-capped
Hilty;
15 set to nearly
those
of Plush-capped
found
from
and tanagers
of a monotone
reminiscent
the
and less frequently
which so many temperate
in a series and lasting
songs are
than
Additionally,
from
we
cit.),
seen away
and
with
those of the numerous
(hence
wear
in pressing its head into
1 and 4 m above ground
they
plush-like
of bamboo.
with mixed parties and their inconspicuousness
Peru
by lowland
wet from rain and fog at these elevations.
Goodfellow
between
observations
leaf
and
to feather
This may be adaptive
Usually
employed
larger leaves and less dense foliage.
feathers
In
147
Yellow-crowned
Spectacled
Redstart
melanocephalus) in Peru; Citrine Warbler
(&s&uterus
Zuteoviridis),
Blue-backed
Conebill
(Conirostrum, sitticolor), Golden-crowned
Tanager
(Iridosornis u&vertex)
in
Colomhia; Yellow-scarfed
Tanager
(1. reinhardti) in Perk; Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager
(Anisognathu Zacrymosus)
, Black-capped
Hemispingus
(Hemispingus atropdeus)
, Oleaginous Hemispingus
(H. front&s),
and Gray-capped
Hemispingus
(H. reyi) in Venezuela; and several brush-finches (Atlapetes spp.).
(M.
The
nesting
biology
of Plush-capped
was noted
accompanying
Venezuela,
on 21 December
breeding
season in Ranch0
citrinifrons)
of Zoology
Washington
D.C.,
back,
broadly
light
(colors
rump,
follow
Phelps
plumages
wings
of feathers
of forehead
Ridgway,
adult
km
(op. cit.)
but
west
a juvenile
of
mention
Caracas,
May
Finches
heavily
of
(soft part colors from specimen
underparts
thank
plain brownish-olive
Chris
Finches.
M.
Parrish
George
Russell,
Univ.
Standards
edged
tail
as the
(C. d.
washed
with
Terry
of Arizona;
have not been
Color
including
brownish-olive,
in the LSU
Nomenclature,
crown,
tail
paler
ochraceous-tawny.
than
and flecks
or orange-rufous
of chestnut
Juvenal:
like
B. Johnson
Jr.,
Louisiana
and Richard
and
adults,
Some immature
of yellow
to blue-gray,
nape,
dusky
show varyin g amounts
labels).
Lowery
and
brownish-olive,
on basal portion
on under-
hill brown to pinkish-gray
immature
with no ochraceous-tawny
and
H.
Finches
a series of specimens
brownish-olive,
narrowly
plumage
and forecrown
Color
Iris brown to dark brown, legs gray-brown
Stephen
30
For 15 Plush-capped
from
upperparts
dusky
underside
brownish-olive
approaching
capped
described
about
of Plush-capped
description
Immature:
brownish-olive,
specimens
We
and
40 km westward.
the following
1912).
and
edged
underparts
parts.
Grande
has not been
by 2 adults
Schafer
and immature
we present
Museum
1976.
Finches
fed
being
Z = 14.3 2 1.7 g.
Because the juvenal
described
mantle,
and
but forehead
gray and
wash.
for useful
State
information
Univ.
C. Banks,
Museum
U.S.
about
Plush-
of Zoology;
National
Museum,
148
THE WILSON
BULLETIN
* Vol. 91, No. 1, March 1979
kindly allowed us to examine specimens in their care. John P. O’Neill
and Lester L.
Short reviewed the manuscript and suggested several useful improvements. Support
and travel during these observations came from a Univ. of Arizona-Peace Corps Graduate Research Program and Bird Bonanzas Inc., (Hilty), the LSU Museum of Zoology
(Parker), and the Peace Corps (Silliman) .-STEVEN
L. HILTY, Dept. of Ecology and
Evolutionary Biology, Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721; THEODORE A. PARKER III,
Museum of Zoology, Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge, LA 70893; and JAMES SILLIMAN,
Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721. Accepted
8 Dec. 1977.
Wilson Bull., 91(l),
1979, p. 148
An observation
of stick presentation
by the Swallow-tailed
Kite.-On
26 January 1977, while conducting field research in Saul, French Guiana, we observed a
Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides jorjicatus)
circling over the forest holding a long,
narrow stick in its bill. The flight was maintained for several minutes, whereupon the
individual, bird A, landed about 2 m from another kite, bird B, at the top of a 30 m
dead tree. Keeping its head lowered, body flattened, and wings extended, A approached
B along a horizontal branch. This was followed by both up and down and side to side
movements of A during presentation of the stick to B. After about 30 set posturing,
A dropped the stick and flew off. The other bird remained impassive throughout the
performance; preening after A had left. We observed Elanoides carrying sticks in their
bills and noted chases and agonistic encounters numerous times in the ensuing weeks.
Instances of males feeding females have been documented for the Swallow-tailed Kite
during both nest-building and incubation (Snyder, Living Bird 13:73-97, 1974). In
such instances, the male usually approached the perched female.
A nesting date in mid-March has been given for Swallow-tailed Kites in Surinam
(Haverschmidt, The Birds of Surinam, Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, 1968). As kites
in Saiil were still in flocks of up to 10 individuals in late January, we interpreted our
observations as ritualized nest-building, serving in the formation rather than intensification of the pair bond.
Our work in French Guiana was supported by the Watkins and Saiil funds of the
University of Kansas. We are grateful to R. F. Johnston, R. M. Mengel, E. C. Murphy,
and J. T. Paul, Jr. for comments on the manuscript.-W.
BRUCE MCGILLIVRAY, Museum
of Natural History and Dept. of Systematics and Ecology, Univ. of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
66045, and DAVID J. BROOKS, Dept. of Zoology, Univ. of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
MSS 2El. Accepted 20 Dec. 1977.
Wilson Bull., 91(l),
1979, pp. 148-149
Record of Puerto Rican Screech Owl, Turkey Vulture
and Osprey from St.
Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.-The
continued existence of the Puerto Rican Screech
Owl (Otus nudipes) on St. Croix has been in question for some time although there
have been reports of its calls (Leek, Condor 77:107, 1975). While attempting to capture
deer at night on 21 January 1971 I observed a Puerto Rican Screech Owl on the ground
in open pasture. It allowed approach within 10 m and was illuminated by a 100,000