Nesting of Dark-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus melacoryphus) on Isabela Island, Galapagos, Ecuador

Ibeth P. Alarcón; Jimmy Navas; Jonathan Cueva; Sebastián Tobar; Ángel Argüello; John Macías; Cristian Sevilla; Birgit Fessl; Francesca Cunninghame

doi:10.56178/eh.v38i2.1437

Short Communications Published 01 December 2023 https://doi.org/10.56178/eh.v38i2.1437

Nesting of Dark-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus melacoryphus) on Isabela Island, Galapagos, Ecuador

Avian Vampire Fly breeding behavior breeding biology Cuculidae nesting Philornis downsi

Ibeth P. Alarcón Charles Darwin Research Station, Charles Darwin Foundation, Santa Cruz, Galapagos, 200105, Ecuador | Maestría en Ciencias Biológicas, Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, 90000, Mexico

Jimmy Navas Charles Darwin Research Station, Charles Darwin Foundation, Santa Cruz, Galapagos, 200105, Ecuador | Galapagos National Park Directorate, Santa Cruz, Galapagos, 200105, Ecuador

Jonathan Cueva Charles Darwin Research Station, Charles Darwin Foundation, Santa Cruz, Galapagos, 200105, Ecuador

Sebastián Tobar Charles Darwin Research Station, Charles Darwin Foundation, Santa Cruz, Galapagos, 200105, Ecuador

Ángel Argüello Charles Darwin Research Station, Charles Darwin Foundation, Santa Cruz, Galapagos, 200105, Ecuador

John Macías Galapagos National Park Directorate, Santa Cruz, Galapagos, 200105, Ecuador

Cristian Sevilla Galapagos National Park Directorate, Santa Cruz, Galapagos, 200105, Ecuador

Birgit Fessl Charles Darwin Research Station, Charles Darwin Foundation, Santa Cruz, Galapagos, 200105, Ecuador

Francesca Cunninghame Charles Darwin Research Station, Charles Darwin Foundation, Santa Cruz, Galapagos, 200105, Ecuador | Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 340 Great King Street, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand

Abstract

We present new data and reviewed the information available on the breeding biology of the Dark-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus melacoryphus), a widespread South American species. We collected opportunistic observations from three nests in a mangrove forest on Isabela Island, Galapagos Archipelago, Ecuador. The nests were built in forks of White Mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa) branches 5 to 9 m above the ground. They were low/cup-shaped, with intertwined branches on the outside and leaves, stipules, and strips of stem bark in the inner cup. The clutch size was three eggs, which were light green and sub-elliptical in shape. The nestling period lasted between 7 and 8 days. We observed biparental care during incubation and brooding. In addition, we documented the parasitism of the Avian Vampire Fly (Philornis downsi) on Dark-billed Cuckoo chicks.

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References

BABARSKAS M, PEREIRA J AND HAENE E (2003) Aves de la Reserva Natural Otamendi. Pp. 47-113 in: Pereira J and Haene E (eds). Fauna de Otamendi, Inventario de los animales vertebrados de la Reserva natural Otamendi (Pdo. Campana, Provincia de Buenos Aires, República Argentina). Temas de Naturaleza y Conservación – Monografía de Aves Argentinas Nº 3
Baicich PJ and Harrison CJ (1997) A guide to the nests, eggs, and nestling of North American birds. Second edition. San Diego (USA): Academic Press
Brinkhuizen DM and Nilsson J (2020) Birds and mammals of the Galapagos. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions
Cadena-Ortiz H (2018) Sugerencias para la toma de datos en eventos de biología reproductiva de aves. Avances en Ciencias e Ingenierías 10(16):24-35. https://doi.org/10.18272/aci.v10i1.297
Cunninghame F, Switzer R, Parks B, Young G, Carrión A, Medranda P and Sevilla C (2015) Conserving the critically endangered mangrove finch: Head-starting to increase population size. Pp. 151-157 in: Galapagos Report 2013-2014. GNPD, GCREG, CDF and GC. Puerto Ayora, Galapagos, Ecuador
Dabbene R (1926) Nidificación del cucúlido Coccyzus melanocoryphus Vieill. El Hornero 3:420-422
Damon A (2020) Dark-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus melacoryphus) in: Schulenberg TS, editor (2020), Birds of the World (web application). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Available: https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.dabcuc1.01
Di Giacomo AG (2005) Aves de la Reserva El Bagual. Pp. 201- 465 in: Di Giacomo AG and Krapovickas SF (eds). Historia natural y paisaje de la Reserva El Bagual, provincia de Formosa, Argentina. Inventario de los vertebrados y de la flora vascular de un área protegida del Chaco Húmedo. Temas de Naturaleza y Conservación – Monografía de Aves Argentinas Nº 4
Dvorak M, Tebbich S, Fessl B and Vargas H (2000) Distribution, numbers and habitat of the Mangrove Finch (Cactospiza heliobates) on Isabela, Galápagos Islands. Results of surveys in 1997 and 1998. A report to the German Ornithological Society and the Charles Darwin Research Station. Vienna. BirdLife Osterreich DO-G
Ervin S (1989) The nesting of the Dark-billed Cuckoo in the Galapagos. Noticias de Galápagos 48:8-10
Fessl B, Couri MS and Tebbich S (2001) Philornis downsi Dodge & Aitken, new to the Galapagos Islands (Diptera, Muscidae). Studia Dipterologic 8:317-322
Fessl B, Heimpel GE and Causton CE (2018) Invasion of an Avian Nest Parasite, Philornis downsi, to the Galapagos Islands: Colonization History, Adaptations to Novel Ecosystems, and Conservation Challenges. Chapter 9. Pp. 213–266 in: Parker PG (ed). Disease Ecology: Galapagos Birds and their Parasites. Disease Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65909-1_9
Fessl B, Sinclair BJ and Kleindorfer S (2006) The life-cycle of Philornis downsi (Diptera: Muscidae) parasitizing Darwin’s finches and its impacts on nestling survival. Parasitology 133:739-747. https://doi:10.1017/s0031182006001089
Fessl B and Tebbich S (2002) Philornis downsi - a recently discovered parasite on the Galápagos archipelago - a threat to Darwin’s finches? Ibis 144:445-451. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1474-919X.2002.00076.x
Fierro-Calderón K, Loaiza-Muñoz M, Sánchez-Martínez MA, Ocampo D, David S, Greeney HF and Londoño GA (2021) Methods for collecting data about the breeding biology of Neotropical birds. Journal of Field Ornithology 92(4):315-341. https://doi.org/10.1111/jofo.12383
Freile J and Restall R (2018) Birds of Ecuador. London (UK): Helm Field Guides
Gifford EW (1919) Field notes on the land birds of the Galapagos Islands and of Cocos Island, Costa Rica. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences Fourth Series 2:189-258
Grant PR (1986) Ecology and evolution of Darwin’s finches. Pp. 213-266 in: Fessl B, Heimpel GE and Causton CE (eds) Invasion of an Avian Nest Parasite, Philornis downsi, to the Galapagos Islands: Colonization History, Adaptations to Novel Ecosystems, and Conservation Challenges. Disease Ecology
Hughes JM (2020a) Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus). In: Rodewald PG (ed). Birds of the World (web application). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Available: https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.bkbcuc.01
Hughes JM (2020b) Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus). In: Rodewald PG (ed). Birds of the World (web application). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Available: https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.yebcuc.01
Lovette IJ and Fitzpatrick JW (2016) The Cornell Lab of Ornithology Handbook of Bird Biology. Third Edition. West Susse (UK): Cornell University
McNew SM and Clayton DH (2018) Alien invasion: Biology of Philornis flies Highlighting Philornis downsi, an introduced parasite of Galápagos birds. Annual Review of Entomology 63:369–387. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ento-020117-043103
Paixão VHF, Macario P and Pichorim M (2021) Breeding biology of the Dark-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus melacoryphus (Aves: Cuculidade) in a semi-arid Neotropical region. Ornithology Research 29:68–75
Paixão VHF and Pichorim M (2023) Factors influencing the daily nest survival of the Dark-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus melacoryphus). The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 134(4):604-611. https://doi.org/10.1676/21-00044
Payne RB (1997) Cuco de pico oscuro. Pp. 597 in: Schulenberg TS (ed). Birds of the World (web application). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Available: https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.dabcuc1.01
de la Peña MR (1983) Notas sobre observaciones de nidificación de aves en la Provincia de Santa Fe. El Hornero 129-131
de la Peña MR (2013) Nidos y reproducción de las aves argentinas. Santa Fe (AR): Ediciones Biológica. Serie Naturaleza, Conservación y Sociedad N° 8
Riehl C (2021) Evolutionary origins of cooperative and communal breeding: lessons from the crotophagine cuckoos. Ethology 127:827-836. https://doi.org/10.1111/eth.13149
Salvador SA (2011) Biología reproductiva de la familia Cuculidae en el departamento Gral. San Martín, Córdoba, Argentina. Historia Natural 3:101-112
Simon JE and Pacheco S (2005) On the standardization of nest descriptions of Neotropical birds. Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 13(2):143–154
Smithe FB (1975) Naturalist’s color guide. New York (USA): American Museum of Natural History
Smyth CH (1928) Descripción de una colección de huevos de aves argentinas. El Hornero 4(2):125-152

How to cite

Ibeth P. Alarcón, Jimmy Navas, Jonathan Cueva, Sebastián Tobar, Ángel Argüello, John Macías, Cristian Sevilla, Birgit Fessl, Francesca Cunninghame (2023). Nesting of Dark-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus melacoryphus) on Isabela Island, Galapagos, Ecuador. El Hornero, Vol. 38 No. 2 (2023), 53-62. https://doi.org/10.56178/eh.v38i2.1437

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[1] BABARSKAS M, PEREIRA J AND HAENE E (2003) Aves de la Reserva Natural Otamendi. Pp. 47-113 in: Pereira J and Haene E (eds). Fauna de Otamendi, Inventario de los animales vertebrados de la Reserva natural Otamendi (Pdo. Campana, Provincia de Buenos Aires, República Argentina). Temas de Naturaleza y Conservación – Monografía de Aves Argentinas Nº 3

[2] Baicich PJ and Harrison CJ (1997) A guide to the nests, eggs, and nestling of North American birds. Second edition. San Diego (USA): Academic Press

[3] Brinkhuizen DM and Nilsson J (2020) Birds and mammals of the Galapagos. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions

[4] Cadena-Ortiz H (2018) Sugerencias para la toma de datos en eventos de biología reproductiva de aves. Avances en Ciencias e Ingenierías 10(16):24-35. https://doi.org/10.18272/aci.v10i1.297

[5] Cunninghame F, Switzer R, Parks B, Young G, Carrión A, Medranda P and Sevilla C (2015) Conserving the critically endangered mangrove finch: Head-starting to increase population size. Pp. 151-157 in: Galapagos Report 2013-2014. GNPD, GCREG, CDF and GC. Puerto Ayora, Galapagos, Ecuador

[6] Dabbene R (1926) Nidificación del cucúlido Coccyzus melanocoryphus Vieill. El Hornero 3:420-422

[7] Damon A (2020) Dark-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus melacoryphus) in: Schulenberg TS, editor (2020), Birds of the World (web application). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Available: https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.dabcuc1.01

[8] Di Giacomo AG (2005) Aves de la Reserva El Bagual. Pp. 201- 465 in: Di Giacomo AG and Krapovickas SF (eds). Historia natural y paisaje de la Reserva El Bagual, provincia de Formosa, Argentina. Inventario de los vertebrados y de la flora vascular de un área protegida del Chaco Húmedo. Temas de Naturaleza y Conservación – Monografía de Aves Argentinas Nº 4

[9] Dvorak M, Tebbich S, Fessl B and Vargas H (2000) Distribution, numbers and habitat of the Mangrove Finch (Cactospiza heliobates) on Isabela, Galápagos Islands. Results of surveys in 1997 and 1998. A report to the German Ornithological Society and the Charles Darwin Research Station. Vienna. BirdLife Osterreich DO-G

[10] Ervin S (1989) The nesting of the Dark-billed Cuckoo in the Galapagos. Noticias de Galápagos 48:8-10

[11] Fessl B, Couri MS and Tebbich S (2001) Philornis downsi Dodge & Aitken, new to the Galapagos Islands (Diptera, Muscidae). Studia Dipterologic 8:317-322

[12] Fessl B, Heimpel GE and Causton CE (2018) Invasion of an Avian Nest Parasite, Philornis downsi, to the Galapagos Islands: Colonization History, Adaptations to Novel Ecosystems, and Conservation Challenges. Chapter 9. Pp. 213–266 in: Parker PG (ed). Disease Ecology: Galapagos Birds and their Parasites. Disease Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65909-1_9

[13] Fessl B, Sinclair BJ and Kleindorfer S (2006) The life-cycle of Philornis downsi (Diptera: Muscidae) parasitizing Darwin’s finches and its impacts on nestling survival. Parasitology 133:739-747. https://doi:10.1017/s0031182006001089

[14] Fessl B and Tebbich S (2002) Philornis downsi - a recently discovered parasite on the Galápagos archipelago - a threat to Darwin’s finches? Ibis 144:445-451. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1474-919X.2002.00076.x

[15] Fierro-Calderón K, Loaiza-Muñoz M, Sánchez-Martínez MA, Ocampo D, David S, Greeney HF and Londoño GA (2021) Methods for collecting data about the breeding biology of Neotropical birds. Journal of Field Ornithology 92(4):315-341. https://doi.org/10.1111/jofo.12383

[16] Freile J and Restall R (2018) Birds of Ecuador. London (UK): Helm Field Guides

[17] Gifford EW (1919) Field notes on the land birds of the Galapagos Islands and of Cocos Island, Costa Rica. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences Fourth Series 2:189-258

[18] Grant PR (1986) Ecology and evolution of Darwin’s finches. Pp. 213-266 in: Fessl B, Heimpel GE and Causton CE (eds) Invasion of an Avian Nest Parasite, Philornis downsi, to the Galapagos Islands: Colonization History, Adaptations to Novel Ecosystems, and Conservation Challenges. Disease Ecology

[19] Hughes JM (2020a) Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus). In: Rodewald PG (ed). Birds of the World (web application). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Available: https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.bkbcuc.01

[20] Hughes JM (2020b) Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus). In: Rodewald PG (ed). Birds of the World (web application). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Available: https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.yebcuc.01

[21] Lovette IJ and Fitzpatrick JW (2016) The Cornell Lab of Ornithology Handbook of Bird Biology. Third Edition. West Susse (UK): Cornell University

[22] McNew SM and Clayton DH (2018) Alien invasion: Biology of Philornis flies Highlighting Philornis downsi, an introduced parasite of Galápagos birds. Annual Review of Entomology 63:369–387. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ento-020117-043103

[23] Paixão VHF, Macario P and Pichorim M (2021) Breeding biology of the Dark-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus melacoryphus (Aves: Cuculidade) in a semi-arid Neotropical region. Ornithology Research 29:68–75

[24] Paixão VHF and Pichorim M (2023) Factors influencing the daily nest survival of the Dark-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus melacoryphus). The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 134(4):604-611. https://doi.org/10.1676/21-00044

[25] Payne RB (1997) Cuco de pico oscuro. Pp. 597 in: Schulenberg TS (ed). Birds of the World (web application). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Available: https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.dabcuc1.01

[26] de la Peña MR (1983) Notas sobre observaciones de nidificación de aves en la Provincia de Santa Fe. El Hornero 129-131

[27] de la Peña MR (2013) Nidos y reproducción de las aves argentinas. Santa Fe (AR): Ediciones Biológica. Serie Naturaleza, Conservación y Sociedad N° 8

[28] Riehl C (2021) Evolutionary origins of cooperative and communal breeding: lessons from the crotophagine cuckoos. Ethology 127:827-836. https://doi.org/10.1111/eth.13149

[29] Salvador SA (2011) Biología reproductiva de la familia Cuculidae en el departamento Gral. San Martín, Córdoba, Argentina. Historia Natural 3:101-112

[30] Simon JE and Pacheco S (2005) On the standardization of nest descriptions of Neotropical birds. Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 13(2):143–154

[31] Smithe FB (1975) Naturalist’s color guide. New York (USA): American Museum of Natural History

[32] Smyth CH (1928) Descripción de una colección de huevos de aves argentinas. El Hornero 4(2):125-152