Breeding biology of Chalk-browed Mockingbird Mimus saturninus in a natural savanna of Central Brazil

Abstract

The Chalk-browed Mockingbird Mimus saturninus (Mimidae) is a common bird in savannas, grasslands, and farmlands, also occurring in urban areas. We studied its breeding biology in a Cerrado savanna inside a reserve at central Brazil, from 2003 to 2013. We monitored 74 nests, which were usually found in the more open phytophysiognomies of the Cerrado. The breeding season lasted from late August to late December. The nest is a cup built with twigs and generally placed on shrubs and small trees. Mean nest height above the ground was 1.3 ± 0.5 m (n = 73). Mean clutch size was of 2.9 ± 0.9 eggs (n = 63), ranging from one (possibly an incomplete clutch) to six eggs (possibly a communal nest). Incubation was asynchronous, the incubation period lasted 14.2 ± 0.9 days (n = 17 nests), and the nestling period lasted 14.1 ± 1.2 days (n = 21 nests). Nestling infestation by botfly larvae was common (60% of nests), but did not cause any nest loss. Its breeding season was similar to most birds of the Cerrado region, but its clutch size was larger. The Chalk-browed Mockingbird breeding biology in central Brazil is similar to that reported from the southern part of its distribution. The species is capable of multiple broods, has cooperative breeding and shows evidence of communal breeding, a rare behavior reported so far for Mimidae. The main difference between our study and those conducted with the Chalk-browed Mockingbird in Argentina, is the very low prevalence of brood parasites, demonstrating the importance of reserves to allow breeding with low brood parasitism rates.