Description of the nest, nestling and broken-wing behavior of Conopophaga aurita (Passeriformes: Conopophagidae)

Abstract

The Chestnut-belted Gnateater is an Amazonian species with a wide distribution, but few studies exist on its reproductive biology and behavior. In this paper we describe the nest and aspects of the behavioral repertoire employed in nest defense. Observations were made on the Dimona farm, in the municipality of Presidente Figueiredo, state of Amazonas. On December 8, 2010, we observed a female Chestnut-belted Gnateater doing a "broken wing" display, suggesting that the parent was trying to distract us away from an active nest nearby. On December 10, we found the nest on a fern at a height of 56 cm, containing a feathered chick; two days later, the chick was no longer in the nest. The height, shape and material of the nest, were similar to those of other Conopophaga species in which the clutch size is two, but commonly producing only one surviving nestling.