Breeding of the Spot-Billed Toucanet (Selenidera maculirostris) in the Wild

• Published in: The Wilson journal of ornithology Vol. 121; no. 4; pp. 807 - 809
• Main Authors: de Camargo Guaraldo, André, Staggemeier, Vanessa Graziele
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Fort Collins Wilson Ornithological Society 01.12.2009
• Subjects: Aechmea; Analysis; Animal behavior; Animal parental behavior; Animal parental behaviour; Animal reproduction; Behavior; Bird breeding; Bird nesting; Bird nests; Birds; Breeding; Bromeliaceae; Cavities; Data processing; Eggs and nests; Female animals; Forests; Habitats; Lauraceae; Leaves; Morphometry; Natural history; Nests; Observations; Ornithology; Parental behavior; Parental behavior in animals; Parks; Physiological aspects; Properties; Ramphastidae; Reviews; Short Communications; Toucans; Trees; Tropical rain forests; Tunnels; Brazil; Atlantic Forest
• ISSN: 1559-4491; 1938-5447
• DOI: 10.1676/08-089.1

The Spot-billed Toucanet (Selenidera maculirostris) is an endemic member of the Ramphastidae occurring in the Atlantic Forest in Brazil. There is anecdotal literature about this species breeding in the wild, but no data are available about parental behavior and nest morphometry. We describe observations of parental behavior of the Spot-billed Toucanet including measurements of one nest in Ilha do Cardoso State Park, São Paulo, Brazil. The nest was inside a hollow of a Lauraceae tree with the entrance hidden by leaves of Aechmea sp. (Bromeliaceae). The Spot-billed Toucanet, based on our observations and review of the literature, nests in tree cavities between 2 and 7 m above ground and both parents provision the nestlings.