OBSERVATIONS ON THE PARENTAL CARE BEHAVIOR OF THE MAROON-CHESTED GROUND DOVE (PARACLARAVIS MONDETOURA) IN SOUTHEASTERN ECUADOR

Abstract

We present the first observations of parental care behaviors of the Maroon-chested Ground-Dove (Claravis mondetoura) using 222.5 hours of recorded observations from a single nest found in tropical montane forest in the Tapichalaca Biological Reserve in south-east Ecuador. Recording began with the onset of incubation and continued through fledging. Observations of male and female attendance at the nest were used to analyze visit frequency and timing, duration, and differences in male and female investment in the reproductive effort. Both adults spent time incubating, brooding, and shared feeding responsibilities and patterns observed reflected those commonly seen in other Neotropical Columbidae.