Incubation behavior of the Masked Gnatcatcher (Polioptila dumicola) in Central Argentina

Abstract

We described parental behaviors at one nest during the incubation period of the Masked Gnatcatcher (Polioptila dumicola). The nest contained three eggs and both parents shared incubation duties for 14-15 days. The use of remote sensors allowed us to determine that adults spent 668.83 ± 40.86 min per day incubating, which resulted in approximately 80% of daylight hours to nest attentiveness. Lapses of incubation were on average 86.30 ± 51.67 min. We did not find significant differences in the duration or amount of incubation lapses or off-bouts among periods of the day (morning, midday, and afternoon).