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Diet and breeding of the poorly known White-chinned Swift Cypseloides cryptus Zimmer, 1945, in Brazil

Guilherme Renzo Rocha Brito, Daniel Monteiro Figueira, Nelson Buainain Neto, Daniel Honorato Firme, Renata Biancalana, Claydson Pinto de Assis, Gabriela Guimarães Araújo, Marco Aurélio Crozariol, Gabriella Frickes, Ricardo Parrini, Piero Ruschi, Marcos André Raposo

Abstract


The White-chinned Swift Cypseloides cryptus is perhaps one of the rarest swift species in the New World, and many aspects of its life history are poorly known. Here we report some new information on diet and reproductive behavior of a breeding population of C. cryptus at Asframa Falls, Rio Preto da Eva, Amazonas, Brazil. During four surveys at the breeding site (March and August 2012, July and August 2013), six active small cup-shaped nests were found and are described. Measurements and plumage information of five collected adults and two chicks are also provided. Stomach contents (n=5) revealed the presence of insects of the order Hymenoptera and Hemiptera. The presence of a member of Psyllidae (Hemiptera) in the stomach contents suggests that this swift might also use a slightly different foraging strategy than commonly stated about swifts. Additionally, with this new information it is possible to determine the presence of the species over at least nine months in Brazil, indicating year-round residence.


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