Nesting of Sickle-winged Guan Chamaepetes goudotii fagani (Cracidae) in Ecuador
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18272/reo.v12i.4029Keywords:
citizen science, breeding, eggs, incubation, nestlingsAbstract
Sickle-winged Guan Chamaepetes goudotii (Cracidae) is widely distributed across montane regions of South America, from northern Colombia to Bolivia. However, despite its large body size and broad distribution range, its reproductive biology remains poorly studied. Here, we report on the incubation period and egg mass loss of C. g. fagani in Ecuador based on monitoring of an active nest in May 2020, and describe its reproductive seasonality through a review of published literature and records in citizen-science platforms up to March 2026. In total, we obtained eight records of reproductive events, including nests with eggs, nests with nestlings, and fledglings. The nests were platforms with a central depression; some included incorporated materials, whereas in others the depression apparently formed primarily by site use. Incubation period in the monitored nest lasted 29 days and eggs’ mass loss was 0.80–0.95 g every 2 days. Clutch size was two eggs in all nests. Nestlings had predominantly black down with two chestnut dorsal stripes, differing from other subspecies. Breeding records, both obtained in the field and from secondary sources, were concentrated mainly in May and June, suggesting an association with the transition from the rainy season to the dry season in northern of Ecuador. These results provide the first description of the incubation period and egg mass loss for C. g. fagani and of the genus Chamaepetes under natural conditions.
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