We report observations of Thick-billed Euphonias (Euphonia laniirostris) and a Golden-faced Tyrannulet (Zimmerius chrysops) kleptoparasitizing nest material from Red-faced Spinetail (Cranioleuca erythrops) nests in Antioquia, Colombia. Thick-billed Euphonias (12 ± 1 m, n = 11 encounters) and Golden-faced Tyrannulets (10 ± 1 m, n = 19) at our study site typically foraged at similar heights as the Red-faced Spinetail nests they parasitized (9 m for both nests), consistent with the idea that a kleptoparasite might steal material from nests in its home stratum to avoid predation risk associated with descending to the ground in search of nest material. We encourage ornithologists to continue reporting instances of nest material kleptoparasitism so its prevalence in birds can be rigorously assessed.
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1 December 2012
Kleptoparasitism of Nesting Material from a Red-faced Spinetail (Cranioleuca erythrops) Nest Site
David L. Slager,
Molly E. McDermott,
Amanda D. Rodewald
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