Breeding biology of white-winged trumpeters (Psophia leucoptera) in Peru
Auk
1995
Journal Article
112
2
285-295
Parque Nacional del Manu animal behavior ecology pathology physiology reproductive system reproduction Gruiformes Aves Vertebrata Chordata Animalia Psophia leucoptera animals birds chordates vertebrates chick clutch size dispersal group size mortality predation social dominance survival nesting Cocha Cashu small spatial scales single-species study Madre de Dios Bibliography
I studied the breeding biology of a population of White-winged Trumpeters (Psophia leucoptera) in undisturbed lowland rain forest in Manu National Park, southeastern Peru. At this study site, it was possible to habituate trumpeters to humans, allowing groups to be followed and observed at distances of a few meters for entire days. I found that White-winged Trumpeters lived in cooperatively polyandrous groups of 4 to 13 individuals that defended permanent year-round territories. Clutches that averaged three eggs were laid by the dominant female on the floor of elevated cavities in trees. Eggs were incubated for about four weeks, primarily by the group's dominant male and female. Chicks hatched around the end of October at the beginning of the rainy season. If at least one of the brood survived, a subsequent clutch was not laid until the following breeding season. Predation on eggs and chick mortality resulted in an average of 1.6 young per group-year surviving to adulthood. White-winged Trumpeter chicks were precocial and left the nesting cavity the day after they hatched, able to walk and climb. Chicks were dependent on older birds to provide them with all of their food for over three weeks and were still receiving more than one-half of their food from adults at two months. Trumpeters reached sexual maturity at about two years of age, at which time both male and female offspring dispersed from their natal groups.