Breeding behavior, distribution, and conservation of the Sharp-tailed Tyrant Culicivora caudacuta (Vieillot, 1818) (Aves: Tyrannidae), a South American grassland specialist

Robson Silva E Silva

doi:10.11606/1807-0205/2021.61.65

Abstract

Culicivora caudacuta occurs in the Cerrado, Pampa and Chaco grasslands of Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay. Its breeding biology is poorly known. Here, I present a summary of the published information and new data gathered between 2003 and 2009 in southeast Brazil at Tapira, Minas Gerais. Breeding occurred during the rainy season (October to March), clutch size being three eggs. Juveniles and immatures show a different plumage from the adults, mostly brownish orange. All nests studied at Tapira showed evidence of cooperative breeding, with one helper engaged in incubation and provisioning the young. This is the first observations of this behavior for the species. The species has a wider range than currently understood and its presence in protected areas is similarly more common.

Highlights

The Sharp-tailed Tyrant Culicivora caudacuta (Fig. 1) is a small tyrant flycatcher (Tyrannidae: Elaeniinae) described in 1818 by Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot (1748‐1830) as Muscicapa caudacuta (Le Moucherolle a queue en aiguille), based on the original description of the “Cola de agujas” (No 277) from Paraguay by Félix de Azara (1746‐1821) (Vieillot, 1818)
Culicivora caudacuta occurs in central South America in habitats dominated by tall grasses and bushes in the Cerrado, Chaco and Pampa of Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay (Azpiroz, 1998; Fitzpatrick, 2004; Lopes et al, 2009)
Culicivora caudacuta was first recorded at CMT on 26 November 2002 at BD‐5, the same spot where nests were found, and in another two areas along the reservoir

Summary

Introduction

The Sharp-tailed Tyrant Culicivora caudacuta (Fig. 1) is a small tyrant flycatcher (Tyrannidae: Elaeniinae) described in 1818 by Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot (1748‐1830) as Muscicapa caudacuta (Le Moucherolle a queue en aiguille), based on the original description of the “Cola de agujas” (No 277) from Paraguay by Félix de Azara (1746‐1821) (Vieillot, 1818).

Results

Conclusion