Distribution and habitat preferences of the Southern Antpipit (Corythopis delalandi) in the Austral Yungas of Bolivia and Argentina

ÁLVAREZ ME; BLENDINGER PG

ORNITOLOGIA NEOTROPICAL

NEOTROPICAL ORNITHOLOGICAL SOC

Año: 2007 vol. 18 p. 627 - 633

1075-4377

Distribución y preferencias de hábitat del Mosquitero (Corythopis delalandi) en las Yungas Australes de Bolivia y Argentina. The currently known distribution of the Southern Antpipit (Corythopis delalandi) ranges from southern Brazil to eastern Paraguay, northeastern Argentina and east of Bolivia. Here we report new distribution records of the Southern Antpipit for the Austral Yungas in southern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina and we analyze its habitat preferences in this area. The scarcity of records between April and September suggests that Southern Antpipits present partial migratory behavior in the southern end of their distribution. Our novel distribution data for the Southern Antpipit for the Austral Yungas suggest a recent expansion of this species range towards the south. Although Southern Antpipits seem to be tolerant to forest disturbances, their persistence in the region might be threatened. This species has a marked habitat preference in Austral Yungas, it occurs mainly in the lower part of humid gorges associated with medium-sized creeks with a estimated density of  0.63 ± 0.64 individuals ha-1. It occurs almost exclusively in the Premontane Forest, a seriously threatened ecosystem which undergoes a very high transformation rate.