Abstract
Abstract: Ramphastidae is Family of secondary cavity-nesting birds that is endemic to the Neotropical region. Here we provide a comprehensive literature review of nest measurements, and new information on characteristics of the nest cavity, parental nest attendance, incubation and nestling period of the Red-breasted Toucan, Ramphastos dicolorus. We also add information on the origin of the seeds found inside toucan nests and propose a potential function for them. Eight nests were studied in three cavities during six breeding seasons at Parque Estadual das Fontes do Ipiranga, São Paulo, and at a private allotment in Ibiúna, southeastern Brazil. The reproductive activities of the birds were observed from September to February. In one cavity, we found the first record of a Meliponini bee hive (Scaptotrigona bipunctata) co-existing with a toucan nest. At the beginning of the nesting season, the parents regurgitate seeds on the floor of the cavity, covering it with them. This preparation plays a role in nest sanitation, once the seeds act as a substrate for the feces facilitating the process of carrying them off the nest by the female. The incubation and nestling periods lasted 17.2 ± 1.2 and 43 ± 5.4 days, respectively, and both parents shared egg incubation, nestling, brooding and provisioning, but only the female performed nest sanitation. This differs from published observations on other species of the group, suggesting that the participation of each sex in nest attendance may not be the same for all ramphastids. Additionally, our observations suggest that selecting anthropic locations for nesting can negatively influence toucan nest success.
Highlights
Ramphastidae, including toucanets and toucans, is a family of thirty-four medium to large birds that are endemic to the Neotropical region (Short & Horne 2002, Remsen et al 2017)
Ramphastid diversity is greatest in forested environments, from the lowlands of the subtropical Atlantic Forest to the montane forests of the Andes (Short & Horne 2002)
In the tree found in PEFI, produced by wood decay, there was an active hive of Meliponini bees Scaptotrigona bipunctata (Holmberg), apparently positioned directly under the floor of the toucan nest
Summary
Ramphastidae, including toucanets and toucans, is a family of thirty-four medium to large birds that are endemic to the Neotropical region (Short & Horne 2002, Remsen et al 2017) These birds are remarkable for their colorful plumage and very large bills, which play several ecological and behavioral functions (Sick 1997, Tattersall et al 2009). Toucans are primarily frugivorous and consume many fruits of a wide range of plants, playing an important role in seed dispersal (Galetti et al 2000, Pizo et al 2008) Their substantial participation in the predation of eggs and nestlings of other birds has been reported (Santos & Ragusa-Netto 2013, Cockle et al 2016), highlighting their ecological role as nest predators, while they can be the prey of larger carnivorous birds (Rangel-Salazar & Enriquez-Rocha 1993, Arévalo & Araya-Salas 2013). The incubation period is only known for individuals in captivity (Brehm 1969) and parental participation in nestling provisioning has been quantified, without discriminating between female and male contributions (Jesus et al 2012)
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