El Hornero invites submissions for its upcoming special section devoted to the Reproductive Biology of Neotropical birds. This section aims to bring together contributions reflecting the diversity of questions, study systems, and approaches currently enriching this field in the region, offering a broad and up-to-date view of knowledge on the reproduction of Neotropical birds.
Studies will be accepted on nest-site selection and description, nest and egg morphology and composition, clutch size, incubation and parental care, nestling growth and development, breeding phenology, mating systems, and reproductive success and its determinants (predation, resource availability, habitat or climate change), among others.
Long-term studies and papers offering new perspectives on the reproductive biology of Neotropical birds are especially encouraged. The section will also welcome first descriptions of the reproductive biology of poorly known species, replication studies that repeat methodologies or test previous results in different populations, species, or regions, comparative studies between populations or species, and literature reviews or meta-analyses on the topic.
Papers may be submitted as Articles, Short Communications, or Literature Reviews, following the journal's usual categories. Accepted papers will be published online as they complete the editorial process and will be part of the special section planned for 2027.
Papers may be submitted in Spanish or English. The final Special Section will be published in both languages.
Deadline to submit proposals: until October 16, 2026
Deadline to submit the full manuscript: manuscripts will be accepted until March 15, 2027
Section editors
We introduce the editors of the special section: Dr. María Cecilia De Mársico, Dr. Kaspar Delhey, Dr. Paulo Llambías & Dr. Esteban Botero-Delgadillo.
María Cecilia De Mársico
María Cecilia De Mársico is an independent researcher at CONICET and a professor at the School of Exact and Natural Sciences (UBA). She works in behavioral ecology, specializing in brood parasitism and cooperative breeding in birds. She studies the Screaming Cowbird (Molothrus rufoaxillaris)–Baywing (Agelaioides badius) system, notable for the mimicry between nestlings and the helpers at the nest. She investigates the mechanisms of mimicry, how parasitic females locate nests, and the factors driving cooperative breeding.
Kaspar Delhey
Kaspar Delhey studied biology at the Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca, Argentina, and earned his PhD in Germany (Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Ludwig-Maximilians University). He carried out postdoctoral research in Germany and Australia, and is currently an associate researcher at the Department of Ornithology, Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Germany. His recent work focuses on the evolutionary aspects of bird coloration, shorebirds, and natural history.
Paulo Llambías
Paulo Llambías's scientific career at CONICET has focused on the behavioral ecology and reproductive biology of birds. Through long-term field studies tracking marked individuals, he analyzes how mating systems and life-history traits shape parental care, from nest building and incubation through nestling rearing. His goal is to integrate ecological and evolutionary perspectives to understand the processes that shape the diversity of avian reproductive strategies.
Esteban Botero-Delgadillo
Esteban Botero-Delgadillo studies the ecology and reproductive biology of Neotropical birds, focusing on natural history, nesting ecology, nest architecture, mating systems, and extra-pair reproduction. He integrates behavioral ecology, spatial ecology, and population genetics with a conservation-oriented perspective. He is Director of Conservation Science at SELVA and an Associate Researcher at the Smithsonian Institution.