Life history notes on the Spot-fronted (Cypseloides cherriei), Chestnut-collared (Streptoprocne rutila), and White-collared (S. zonaris) swifts in the Andes of Venezuela

MUÑOZ SAEZ D; ARETA JI; GÓMEZ SERRANO V; MARTIN TE

WILSON JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY

WILSON ORNITHOLOGICAL SOC

Año: 2023 vol. 135 p. 127 - 138

1559-4491

Nests of 3 species of swifts were monitored at Parque Nacional Yacambú in the Venezuelan Andes from 2003to 2008. We focused on 25 nests of the little-known Spot-fronted Swift (Cypseloides cherriei), herein reported in 2 new localitiesfor Venezuela. We compared life history traits with those of the more studied and widespread Chestnut-collared (Streptoprocnerutila; 35 nests) and White-collared (S. zonaris; 4 nests) swifts. Spot-fronted Swift had a clutch size of 1 egg (3.58 g) and an egg:adult mass proportion of 15.6% with an incubation period of 36 d, longer than the 29 d reported in Costa Rica. Chestnut-collaredSwift had a clutch size (1.83), incubation (25 d) and nestling (35–41 d) periods similar to those in Costa Rica. Estimated growthrate constants for mass, tarsus, and wing chord for the latter were very slow. White-collared Swift had a clutch size of 2 and itsobserved incubation (39 d) and nestling (66þ d) periods were longer than those reported for Costa Rica and Argentina. Breedingtraits of these 3 species differed significantly considering their relatedness and co-occurrence. Breeding data of mostCypseloidinae swifts along the latitudinal gradient were reviewed to facilitate intraspecific and interspecific comparisons oftheseelusivespecies,aswellastoidentifygapsincurrentknowledge