Nesting area, eggs and nestling development of the Common Pauraque Nyctidromus albicollis from Venezuela

Abstract

In order to improve our knowledge of the Common Pauraque nesting habits, I collected detailed notes on a nesting event in northern Venezuela. Two eggs laid on fallen leaves were recorded, both conspicuously colored hydrangea pink, heavily marked with vinaceous brown spots. At hatching time, nestlings were born precocial, completely covered with neossoptiles, capable of moving and following their parents. Nestlings moved inside a complex nesting area formed by the nest site per se and 11 additional brooding sites where they scrolled 79.9 linear meters around a potential area of 6,362 m2. First feather papillae appeared on day 4, and nestlings were completely feathered on day 14. Departing time was on day 15. At that moment, they wore their complete first basic plumage, but had very short white tipped tails, without the white band on wings. Also, the white on throat was absent, and the dorsal region showed a gray tinged tone with a vermiculated black pattern, without the black crescent formed by the scapular feathers. In addition, survival strategies, potential threats and vulnerable situations are reported. The present work fills an important gap in the knowledge of the breeding biology of the Common Pauraque, including the potential area necessary for nesting, the complex movements of the nestlings, the precise departing time, the first basic plumage, as well as specific data on their development, a long-required information, in addition to new survival strategies and potential enemies.