Observations of a nest of the Plumbeous Kite, Ictinia plumbea (Gmelin, 1788) (Falconiformes: Accipitridae) in southern Brazil

• Main Author: Fábio André Facco Jacomassa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina 2011-02-01
• Series: Biotemas
• Subjects: Diet; Nesting; Rio Grande do Sul
• Online Access: http://www.biotemas.ufsc.br/volumes/pdf/volume241/77a82.pdf

Between August and December 2005 and September and December 2006, 80h of observations were observed on a nest of Plumbeous Kite (Ictinia plumbea), located on the edge of a fragment in the town of Frederico Westphalen, RS, Brazil. During this period data were obtained on the behavior of copulation, parental care, nest maintenance and feeding. In early August 2005 and October 2006, copulations were observed that lasted on average 9.5s. The parents took turns incubating. In early November, the presence of nestlings was confirmed (one in each breeding season), and this time the parents fed the chicks with small insects (Hymenoptera and Coleoptera) and carried out the maintenance of the nest. The nestlings that were developing into young birds were fed with larger insects (Odonata, Lepidoptera – Myelobia smerintha and Orthoptera – Tropidacris collaris). The parents inhibited the approach of potential predators. Besides the food items supplied to the pups, they consumed fruits of Batinga Eugenia rostrifolia and a Piaya cayana carcass. The incubation period observed in this study agrees with that period already described in the literature for other regions. Finally, the data obtained allow inference of the reproductive season of this species in southern Brazil and also expand the knowledge about their diet to fruits and animal carcasses.