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Yellow-throated Euphonias
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| Photo Information |
Copyright: Rafael Arguedas (monteverde)
![Silver Note Writer [C: 1 W: 0 N: 18]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/n-n-s.gif) (164) |
| Genre: Animals |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2006-04-07 |
| Categories: Birds |
| Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel, 75-300mm |
| Exposure: f/5.6, 1/140 seconds |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2006-04-15 21:58 |
| Viewed: 1041 |
| Points: 2 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
NESTING BIOLOGY OF THE YELLOW-THROATED EUPHONIA: LARGE CLUTCH SIZE IN A NEOTROPICAL FRUGIVORE
SARAH SARGENT
ABSTRACT. - I studied the nesting biology of Yellow-throated Euphonias (Thraupinae:
Euphoniu himndinaceu) in Monteverde, Costa Rica, in 1987-1990. Most nesting occurred
from April to July (N = 69 nests) in covered nests in road banks. Modal clutch size was
five eggs (X = 4.4), an unusually large number for a tropical passerine. Only females incubated
eggs, but both parents fed nestlings. Parents regurgitated food for nestlings, and examination
of nestling fecal samples indicated that fruit made up most of the diet starting from the day
of hatching. Morphological specializations of the digestive tract may enable, or even require,
them to use fruit in the nestling diet more extensively than other birds. Parents visited the
nest infrequently, arrived at the nest together, and accompanied one another to the nest
entrance in what may be a distraction display to confuse potential nest predators. The
covered nests, the infrequent visits to the nest, and the behavior at the nest may all contribute
to reducing nest predation in this species. The combination of large clutch size, extreme
nestling frugivory, and coordinated parental behavior is unique, and the inclusion of euphonias
in comparative studies addressing the evolution of these traits should prove valuable.
Received6 July 1992, accepted2 Dec. 1992.
See more:
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/classification/Euphonia_hirundinacea.html |
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- wuta
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 856 W: 2 N: 617]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(2142) - [2006-04-16 13:51]
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Hello Rafael, A Differculd shot but i like it , good colours and light and fantastic dof ,and nice framing ,Greetings Teunie .
