INVESTIGADORES
GARCIA german oscar
artículos
Título:
Kleptoparasitism by the Caracara Chimango (Milvago chimango) on the American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) at Mar Chiquita Lagoon, Argentina
Autor/es:
GARCÍA GERMÁN OSCAR; BIONDI LAURA MARINA
Revista:
ORNITOLOGIA NEOTROPICAL
Editorial:
NEOTROPICAL ORNITHOLOGICAL SOC
Referencias:
Año: 2011 vol. 22 p. 453 - 457
ISSN:
1075-4377
Resumen:
This study provides a qualitative and quantitative description of the kleptoparasitic behaviour of Milvago chimango on the Haematopus palliatus. Focal observations were performed at Mar Chiquita Lagoon (Argentina) recording a total of 29 kleptoparasitic attempts. All events of kleptoparasitism were performed when oystercatchers were feeding on two infaunal prey: Tagelus plebeius and Cyrtograpsus angulatus. The size of the prey involved in the successful kleptoparasitic events differed significantly from the size of those registered during the unsuccessful ones. Caracara Chimango stole food from oystercatchers by means of two tactics (i.e. running and flying); the flying tactic was the most frequently employed (95% of the cases). When the kleptoparasite attacked, the hosts adopted two retaliation strategies: vocalization-pecking and running with the prey in the bill. The comparison between responses made by oystercatchers revealed an absence of statistically significant differences in their frequency. Our results suggest that the kleptoparasitism by Caracara Chimango might be affecting the feeding behaviour of the oystercatchers.