News - October 2010



Spot-flanked Gallinule
Gallinula melanops
Spot-flanked Gallinule
30-10-10 © Carlos González Ledo
Spot-flanked Gallinule
30-10-10 © Claudia y Tito Di Mauro
Rufescent Tiger-Heron
Tigrisoma lineatum
Rufescent Tiger-Heron
23-10-10 © Carlos González Ledo
Rufescent Tiger-Heron
23-10-10 © Carlos González Ledo
Masked Duck
Nomonyx dominicus
Masked Duck
16-10-10 © Claudia y Diego Bastías
Masked Duck
16-10-10 © Claudia y Diego Bastías

With red-gartered coot

Tropical Kingbird
Tyrannus melancholicus
Tropical Kingbird
16-10-10 © Claudia y Diego Bastías

First spotted of this season

Vermilion Flycatcher
Pyrocephalus rubinus
Vermilion Flycatcher
11-10-10 © Carlos González Ledo
Scarlet-headed Blackbird
Amblyramphus holosericeus
Scarlet-headed Blackbird
11-10-10 © Claudia y Tito Di Mauro
Scarlet-headed Blackbird
11-10-10 © Claudia y Tito Di Mauro

White-faced Whistling-Duck
Dendrocygna viduata
White-faced Whistling-Duck
11-10-10 © José Luis Merlo

Spot-flanked Gallinule
Gallinula melanops
Spot-flanked Gallinule
17-10-10 © Roberto Ares
26-10-10 © Roberto Ares

Courtship and mating

Courtship display: The female stimulates the male showing receptiveness. With the back arched, the rigid wings a bit raised as if touching the tips at the back and the head lowered. The male perceives the female´s disposition and follows her. They engage in a merry-go-round movement and after three turns the female stops to be mounted. The female does not dip the head into the water. As the action is finished the female goes away with a wing shuffling. The male makes a bow display arching his body and lowering the head.


Fulvous Whistling-Duck
Dendrocygna bicolor
Fulvous Whistling-Duck
17-10-10 © Roberto Ares
17-10-10 © Roberto Ares

The scene had already and it was not possible to document the existence of courtship displays prior to mating. During mating the female remains under water and the male holds her by the head. After copulation both celebrate with a short but vigorous water treading as they rise parallel sticking their chests out and keeping their half-folded wings raised.


Rufescent Tiger-Heron
Tigrisoma lineatum
Rufescent Tiger-Heron
11-10-10 © Claudia y Tito Di Mauro

Three chicks in three different sizes. This is because Tiger-Herons, unlike most bird species, begin to incubate immediately after the egg is laid. Since the eggs take the same number of days to develop they hatch staggeredly. This is known as asynchronous hatching and accounts for the difference in size. 

Red-crested Cardinal
Paroaria coronata
Red-crested Cardinal
11-10-10 © Claudia y Tito Di Mauro
Red-gartered Coot
Fulica armillata
Red-gartered Coot
15-10-10 © José Luis Merlo
Gray-breasted Martin
Progne chalybea
Gray-breasted Martin
10-10-10 © Roberto Ares
Gray-breasted Martin
10-10-10 © Roberto Ares
Gray-breasted Martin
10-10-10 © Roberto Ares
Southern Lapwing
Vanellus chilensis
Southern Lapwing
10-10-10 © Roberto Ares
Rufescent Tiger-Heron
Tigrisoma lineatum
Rufescent Tiger-Heron
03-10-10 © Carlos González Ledo

Following the development of the tiger-heron. They are three weeks

Masked Duck
Nomonyx dominicus
Masked Duck
03-10-10 © Roberto Ares
Glittering-bellied Emerald
Chlorostilbon lucidus
Glittering-bellied Emerald
03-10-10 © Carlos González Ledo