Year-round presence of Slaty Thrush (Turdus nigriceps nigriceps) in mountains of central Argentina

VERGARA-TABARES, DAVID LAUTARO; ROJAS, TOBIAS NICOLAS

ARARAJUBA: REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE ORNITOLOGIA

SOC BRASILEIRA ORNITOLOGIA

Lugar: Pelotas, RS; Año: 2016

0103-5657

Th migration patterns of passerine species in the Neotropical region present several gaps of knowledge. Th migratorybehavior of the Slaty Thush (Turdus nigriceps nigriceps) has been well characterized in their central and northern distributionalong eastern slopes of the Andes from Argentina to Ecuador. Th Slaty Thush was historically considered a migrant breeder inthe southern extreme of their distribution. In the present study, we show new evidence of the resident status of this species in itssouthernmost distribution on western slopes of Sierras Grandes and Sierras de Comechingones in Córdoba Province, Argentina.Thre, the Slaty Thush has a year-round presence only at sites invaded by flshy-fruited alien plants. Th main invasive plants formdense patches of vegetation and offr an abundant fruit supply that is highly consumed by this bird species during autumn?winter,when there are no native fruits available. We suggest that the Slaty Thush was a migrant species in past decades, but the recentinvasion by flshy-fruited species could explain its actual year-round presence by providing fruit in a period of the year of foodshortage and new suitable habitats.