Torrent Ducks (Merganetta armata) inhabit fast-flowing rivers in the Andes. Rainfall causes rivers to swell, increasing water velocity, turbulence, and turbidity. These changes may affect the ducks' foraging ability because of the harsher conditions or alteration of the aquatic macroinvertebrate resource base. We examined the relationship of Torrent Duck time budgets with food availability and rainfall in the central Andes of Colombia. Time spent foraging was not correlated with total macroinvertebrate density but was negatively correlated with density of 4 preferred families. Monthly precipitation was negatively correlated with total macroinvertebrate density but not correlated with the 4 preferred families. Time spent foraging correlated with rainfall the day before. Torrent Duck time budgets result from interactions among several factors: the ducks' foraging tactics, prey type, and river conditions that affect ducks directly, and indirectly through prey availability. Three of the 4 preferred invertebrate families are filter-feeding larvae that adhere to rocks and are therefore less affected by changes in river flow than other prey types. Thus, Torrent Duck foraging time is independent of overall invertebrate abundance but responds strongly to changes in the density of the 4 most-consumed families. Foraging time is also affected by previous-day rainfall, suggesting that increases in water flow or turbidity have a direct effect on the ducks’ foraging efficiency. We conclude that physical conditions of the river habitat impose restrictions on the ducks' activities, both directly and through an indirect interaction with food availability.

Despite Hispaniola's high rates of avian endemism and its importance to supporting global biodiversity, relatively little information is available on the basic biology and ecology of its resident birds, particularly the 31 species endemic to the island. Here we describe the nesting ecology and nesting success (n = 643 nests) of species of resident and endemic birds occurring in southwestern Dominican Republic, spanning 4 major habitat types over an elevational gradient from sea level to ∼1,750 m: desert thorn scrub, dry broadleaf forest, pine forest, and montane cloud forest. We quantify nesting success in terms of daily nest survival and cumulative survival probabilities for 14 resident species (3 endemic) and describe life history metrics for these species, including clutch size and length of incubation and brooding. We compare nest success among habitats and highlight the large impact of introduced mammalian predators in all habitats studied. Nesting success was generally lower than in temperate areas, but comparable to other studies of nesting success in the Neotropics, with a mean cumulative survival probability for all open-cup nesting species of 33.6%. Nest failure due to predation varied by species but was overall notably high, ranging from 73% to 100% of all failed nests. Predation was primarily attributable to nonnative mammals introduced via European colonization.

Despite the broad environmental tolerance of the Military Macaw (Ara militaris) reflected in its wide ecological distribution, most surveyed populations in the few studied breeding areas in Mexico present <100 individuals. Although records of the species include several regions across the country, most groups recorded include <50 macaws. Prior to this report, the largest known breeding Mexican population documented was the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán nesting colony with 100 macaws. Over the last 8 years, we surveyed the macaw population nesting in tropical coastal forests located in the southern portions of Bahia de Banderas, the bay where Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco is located. We systematically assessed the macaw population by counting the flocks occurring in 3 forested areas located 20–37 km apart and assumed to harbor different and independent macaw groups. The macaw abundance was surveyed during 35 consecutive months from February 2012 through December 2014. Based on location of the surveys, the timing of the observations, and the flight direction of the 3 distinct macaw groups, we inferred that each uses different foraging, roosting, and nesting areas. Higher abundance for each population was observed during February–May each year, contrasting with a low level of activity observed during the summer months of July–August. We assumed that the macaws exhibit nomadic behavior outside the region during summer. The 3 populations may constitute a metapopulation that congregates after the fledglings acquire flying skills during the initial months of the nonbreeding season on the 3 different areas. During March 2013, the highest concentration was registered in the Yelapa region, where 215 macaws were observed in a colonial roost, constituting the largest aggregation documented for the species. If data from the 3 populations surveyed are combined, the estimated number of macaws is 363 birds for 2014. Based on our data, we believe the region harbors a vital population for the long-term survival of the Military Macaw in central western Pacific and Mexico.

Sexual success of males in lek breeding systems is often determined by display activities that require high energetic costs and may represent honest signals of male quality to females. In this context, manakins (Aves, Pipridae) evolved behavioral, morphological, and physiological adaptations that enable complex display maneuvers, and a high rate of fruit ingestion is needed to cope with the energetic costs of lekking activities. We examined the relationship between different displays (rolled-snaps, flights-down, and snap-jumps) and fruit consumption (a proxy for energy intake) by White-bearded Manakin males (Manacus manacus). We conducted a fruit supplementation experiment and recorded male displays in 23 arenas on 5 leks in southeastern Brazil. The flight-down was the display most related to fruit consumption (and energy refueling) by males of the White-bearded Manakin. This display seems to be decisive to the mating success of Manacus males; once inside a lek area, females are driven to display arenas by flights-down of males as an obligatory stage before copulation. This study opens a promising avenue for further field experiments designed to test how local food resources differentially impact display behavior among males in leks.

The Japanese captive population of Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon) has rapidly increased, and reintroduction programs were initiated on Sado Island in 2008. The Japanese captive population, however, was founded by only 5 individuals originating from the Chinese captive population. Because efforts were directed toward preserving genetic diversity in the captive population, it was appropriate to consider genetic diversity in the reintroduced population to evaluate its potential to survive in the wild, where environmental changes are more significant than in captivity. The purpose of this study was to determine the number of individuals to release in the future to preserve genetic diversity of the reintroduced population. We simulated the probability that the reintroduced population after 50 years would retain a rare allele existing in the captive population, based on demographic parameters obtained from either the Japanese captive or reintroduced populations, or Chinese wild populations. As a result, the 10–15 individuals currently released in the annual reintroduction would be the number needed to be released each year over 50 years to retain the rare allele with a frequency in the captive population of 0.05 with a >90% probability. Therefore, the current reintroduction program seems reasonable and should be continued.

We studied how adult age and condition are related to nest initiation date and estimated survival and age at maturation in the American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Gmelin, 1789), a long-lived, migratory, colonialnesting waterbird. Timing of nest initiation in the breeding colony at Marsh Lake, Minnesota, was not related to age or body condition of adults. However, nests were initiated significantly earlier on a more isolated island with higher nest success than another island located nearer to the lake shore. We estimated an adult annual survival probability of 0.813 ± 0.079, similar to that reported for other American White Pelican populations. We estimated the mean age at which American White Pelicans return to nest at Marsh Lake and found that pelicans are unlikely to begin nesting until they are at least 5 years old.

Stopover sites are essential to bird migration between wintering and breeding grounds, but annual variation in use and habitat conditions make it difficult to determine which sites are most critical for conservation. By studying physiological factors that may influence a bird's behavior when choosing and using a stopover site, researchers can target certain species or locations and more efficiently invest in conservation efforts. In spring 2013 and 2014, we studied stopover refueling performance in a common northeastern spring migrant, the White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis), at 2 locations near the south shore of Lake Ontario. We used morphological measurements and physiological techniques that assessed the concentration of the blood metabolite plasma triglyceride as a measure of fat deposition and feeding efficiency. We found that birds captured at an inland location had a significantly higher body condition score than birds captured at a coastal stopover site within 0.5 km of the shore; a trend toward higher triglyceride concentrations was also noted at the inland location. We found no significant differences in triglyceride concentrations between White-throated Sparrow color morphs, in contrast to previous studies performed during fall migration. Our results suggest that spring migrants arriving in the area in good energetic condition may begin their cross-lake journey directly from the inland site, while birds in poorer condition may “pile up” at the lakeshore and then compete with other migrants for available resources, slowing their fat deposition rate. Our results also reinforce the importance of protecting high-quality stopover habitat where birds congregate near geographic barriers but suggest that inland habitat patches are important stopover sites that may allow some migrants to bypass nearshore areas of intense competition.

Invasive species are one of the main threats to biodiversity, and anthropogenic disturbance facilitates their entry and establishment. In this study, we assessed the presence and abundance of the invasive Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) along a habitat gradient where this species interacts with native doves and pigeons. We found Eurasian Collared-Doves only in habitats modified by human activities, occurring more frequently in urban areas than agricultural fields. Sites with Eurasian Collared-Doves were highly dominated by this species, displaying less diverse dove communities, suggesting that the presence of this invasive species could be a factor contributing to a reduction of dove diversity. Effective management actions are essential to preserve biodiversity in human-modified habitats such as urban areas, and even more so if exotic invader species are present. Controlling Eurasian Collared-Doves' further dispersion could be beneficial to native dove communities in a wide range of habitats.

The northwestern populations in the dead-leaf-foraging Epinecrophylla haematonota complex of thamnophilid antwrens includes E. pyrrhonota, E. fjeldsaai, and E. haematonota. Their taxonomic position has been the subject of recent debate. Divergence in homologous vocalizations provides a principal measure of reproductive isolation and species status for thamnophilid antbirds under the biological species concept, but until recently their evaluation as species has been hampered by the paucity of recordings of E. fjeldsaai. That insufficiency has been remedied, enabling an analytic comparison of vocalizations of the 3 taxa. The results of this analysis led to the recommendation that the 3 taxa be ranked as subspecies of Epinecrophylla haematonota.

The White-throated Kingbird (Tyrannus albogularis) is a widespread species in north-central South America, where it inhabits a variety of open to semi-open habitats. The breeding biology of the species is almost unknown. We describe the reproduction of the species based on 34 nests found in southeastern Brazil and eastern Bolivia since 2004, and eggs and nests found in museum collections. The breeding season lasts from mid-September to mid-February throughout its breeding range. The nest is cup shaped and supported from below. Nests were built with woody stems, grass stems, rootlets, and palm fibers. Mean clutch size was 2.3 eggs, which were ovoid with a pink ground coloration, covered by dark spots and blotches of variable size and color concentrated at the rounded end. The mean incubation period was 16.3 d and the nestling period was 18 d.

Populations of birds utilizing open fields have been declining for decades in North America. Research has primarily focused on these species during the breeding season, however, while wintering distribution and habitat selection are understudied. Research during the nonbreeding season may be especially important in northeastern North America where reforestation is reducing the amount of open-field habitat. In this study, we examined how the abundance of Snow Buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis) and Horned Larks (Eremophila alpestris) varied between agricultural fields of different cover types and sizes during the nonbreeding season. We conducted repeated transect surveys in 9 fields with different crop residues (stubble), a one-time rapid survey of 99 fields of varying sizes and agricultural uses, and an analysis of eBird data examining the presence or absence of our focal species across New York State. The repeated transect surveys revealed that both Snow Buntings and Horned Larks were more likely to be detected in corn stubble fields compared to pasture and hay fields. The rapid survey revealed no difference in the detection of Snow Buntings related to cover types or field size, although no buntings were detected in fields <8 acres (3.24 ha). More Horned Larks were detected in corn and soy fields than in all types of grass fields, and more were detected in larger fields than in smaller fields. The analysis of eBird data revealed that likelihood of occurrence for both species increases with the increasing percentage of open habitat in the surrounding landscape (500 m radius). This study highlights the importance large field complexes where corn and other agricultural stubbles provide habitat and presumably greater food resources for open-field birds in winter.

Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus varius) drill sap holes in a variety of tree species to consume sap and bast. We examined the use of tree species in urban South Florida, a wintering ground for sapsuckers where their tree preferences have not previously been described. We determined that black olive (Bucida buceras) and tropical almond (Terminalia catappa) trees are strongly preferred and are used to a greater extent than all other trees. Coconut palms (Cocos nucifera) and baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) are also drilled but are less likely to become host trees with ≥100 bands of sap holes. In urban areas where black olive and tropical almond are grown, these trees are used so extensively by the sapsucker that bands of sap holes usually extend to within a meter of the ground surface. The urban setting of these trees potentially exposes them to predation by feral cats and puts them at risk of collisions with windows.

Other than penguins, only one bird species—the White-winged Diuca Finch (Idiopsar speculifera)—is known to nest directly on ice. Here we provide new details on this unique behavior, as well as the first description of a Whitefronted Ground-Tyrant (Muscisaxicola albifrons) nest, from the Quelccaya Ice Cap, in the Cordillera Vilcanota of Peru. Since 2005, >50 old White-winged Diuca Finch nests have been found. The first 2 active nests were found in April 2014; 9 were found in April 2016, 1 of which was filmed for 10 d during the 2016 nestling period. Video of the nest revealed infrequent feedings (>1 h between visits), slow nestling development (estimated 20–30 d), and feeding via regurgitation. The first and only active White-fronted Ground-Tyrant nest was found in October 2014, beneath the glacier in the same area. Three other unoccupied White-fronted Ground-Tyrant nests and an eggshell have been found since, all on glacier ice. At Quelccaya, we also observed multiple species roosting in crevasses or voids (caves) beneath the glacier, at elevations between 5,200 m and 5,500 m, including both White-winged Diuca Finch and White-fronted Ground-Tyrant, as well as Plumbeous Sierra Finch (Phrygilus unicolor), Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe (Attagis gayi), and Gray-breasted Seedsnipe (Thinocorus orbignyianus). These nesting and roosting behaviors are all likely adaptations to the harsh environment, as the glacier provides a microclimate protected from precipitation, wind, daily mean temperatures below freezing, and strong solar irradiance (including UV-B and UV-A). Indeed, the global range of White-winged Diuca Finch coincides relatively closely with the distribution of Andean glaciers, and because no nests are known to have been found away from ice, this species may be a glacier obligate. Given the number of individuals observed and diversity of species associated with, and possibly dependent on, the ice, ongoing loss of tropical glaciers may have a direct, negative effect on High Andean biodiversity.

Mercury (Hg) is a naturally occurring widespread and persistent contaminant globally, and its organic form is highly toxic to living organisms and is known to impact humans and wildlife. Our primary goal was to use feathers to establish a contemporary baseline of total Hg contamination levels in Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) that occur on the outer coast of Washington. We document concentrations of total Hg in feathers of 151 peregrines primarily captured on beaches from 2001 to 2016. Peregrines were captured throughout the year, with breeding and natal areas of most individuals undetermined. The bulk of our samples consisted of fourth secondary (s4) feathers, but we include fourth primary and undertail covert feathers for comparison. All s4 feather samples contained detectable concentrations of total Hg (range = 0.7–69.83 µg/g), with mean concentrations in hatch-year (HY) feathers (mean = 6.05 µg/g) significantly lower than in second-year (mean = 22.55 pg/g) and after-second-year (mean = 24.48 µg/g) feathers. We captured 23 individuals more than once to track total Hg concentrations over time (up to 12 years between first and last capture), detecting an increasing trend through their third year before stabilizing in subsequent years. All individuals first captured while in HY plumage and later recaptured (n = 20) exhibited an increased concentration of total Hg in later years (mean maximum difference over time = 25.39 µg/g). Our 16-year study illustrates widespread contamination of total Hg in peregrines captured in coastal Washington, with evidence of bioaccumulation within individuals and between age classes. Encouragingly, peregrines in HY plumage sampled during the final third of our study period exhibited a significantly lower mean total Hg concentration than the first two-thirds of our study. We detected greater total Hg concentrations in coastal Washington peregrines than in nearly all known published studies involving peregrines of various subspecies in North America and Europe, although additional research is needed to establish toxic effects levels in this species.

As part of an ongoing camera trapping project in the Sabangau Peat-swamp Forest (Central Kalimantan, Indonesia), we present camera-trap data on the avifauna. The camera traps have captured images and videos since 2008, including 224 individual bird photos representing 142 unique events of 25 species, 11 of which are Endangered, Vulnerable, or Near-Threatened, all of which we describe in species accounts. We describe natural history using quantitative data for Ciconia stormi, Spilornis cheela, and Centropus sinensis and include notes on the virtually unknown Caprimulgus concretus. We also discuss important breeding and behavior observations for S. cheela, Lophura pyronota, C. sinensis, Blythipicus rubiginosus, and Trichixos pyrropygus. Expansions for habitat and range are noted for Accipiter trivirgatus and Pitta nympha. We discuss conservation implications, as well as the usefulness of using long-term camera-trap data to monitor birds.

The Bridled Quail-Dove (Geotrygon mystacea) is a columbiform resident of the eastern Caribbean. It is a poorly studied species with a lack of quantitative data to assess population status, but perceived population declines have led to it being considered a species of conservation concern on many islands. I attempted to assess population size and survival of Bridled Quail-Doves on Guana Island, British Virgin Islands. Based on detection probability, density estimates for Guana Island ranged from 1.38 to 1.57 individuals/ha in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Densities varied among cover type, with an estimated 1.13 individuals/ha in dry forest (90% of the island) and 4.63 individuals/ha in ghaut forest (5% of the island). These values would translate to a pooled estimate of ∼429 individuals during the survey period. Of 36 Bridled Quail-Doves captured and marked, the naïve estimate of annual survival was 0.813, with 0.36 captured individuals surviving at least 1 year, and the average minimum age at last recapture was 4.9 years old. This report is the first quantitative based estimates of population size and longevity for the species and may serve as a starting point for longer-term studies on Guana Island, but also for comparison to populations on other islands.

Bird song has been extensively studied in oscine passerines, but far less is known about song in hummingbirds, which are distantly related to passerines. Song is generally thought of as a male trait. Here we document song in 2 wild female Costa's Hummingbirds (Calypte costae) of 10 examined. Their vocalizations closely resembled male song and were produced, undirected, on territories just prior to the breeding season. Both birds were confirmed as female and not young males, which resemble females: one had an enlarged ovary, and the other laid eggs. Our results imply that at least some female hummingbirds may learn song as well as males and have similar song capacity as males. The function, if any, of female song was not immediately clear. Female song seemed rarer in this population than in males and thus easy to overlook. Presence of female song could also be an overlooked phenomenon in other hummingbird species.

Associations between social insects, such as wasps and bees, and birds are a common strategy related to nest protection. Several examples exist in the literature of bird–wasp interactions, many in the Neotropics, but some bird families, including swifts (Apodidae), lack information regarding this kind of association. This work reports 2 cases of Neotropical swift species nesting adjacent to wasp nests in southeastern Brazil: the Sooty Swift (Cypseloides fumigatus) and Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift (Panyptila cayennensis). These are the first records of this kind of association in Brazil.

The White-tipped Dove (Leptotilaverreauxi) is an understudied, secretive, game species in south Texas. We banded White-tipped Doves over a 2-year period in Estero Llano Grande State Park (ELGSP) near Weslaco, Texas. We used recent banding information to estimate the first annual survival and recovery rate information for this species in the United States. We collected morphological measurements of captured individuals in June and July 2015 and 2016. We documented a new longevity record for the species in 2016. The individual was a minimum of 9 years and 1 month at encounter as it was first banded in ELGSP in 2008 as an afterhatch-year individual. Our morphological measurements were within the range reported in previous studies. Preliminary annual survival estimates indicate higher annual survival than other Columbidae and low recovery rates.

Hybridization is relatively common in galliforms. In many cases, these hybrids are thought to arise through failures in species recognition, but there are no documented observations of this occurring in the wild. On 1 May 2013, I observed a male Ruffed Grouse (Bonasaumbellus) engage in a courtship display directed toward a female Spruce Grouse (Falcipennis canadensis). This is the first documented case of mistaken species recognition by a Ruffed Grouse and reveals 2 novel aspects of their behavior: the sound of wing flapping might be used to localize conspecifics, and males can be prone to directing courtship toward other species.

Interspecific feeding has been recorded for many bird species worldwide, especially in Europe, yet little information is available on interspecific feeding in China. Here we report a first sighting of an interspecific feeding case between a Rufous-bellied Niltava (Niltava sundara) and a Snowy-browed Flycatcher (Ficedula hyperythra) observed in the Ailao Mountains in Yunnan Province. According to the images and films captured by a camera trap, a male Snowy-browed Flycatcher was found serving as a helper at the nest of a Rufous-bellied Niltava on 17 June 2017. The helping behavior lasted for at least 2 d. The Rufous-bellied Niltava parents showed no aggression when the helper approached their nestlings. We cannot determine the causes of the reported interspecific feeding of the nestlings because the prior history of any of adults involved is unclear. The Rufous-bellied Niltava nestlings' begging behavior might have stimulated the interspecific feeding by the male Snowy-browed Flycatcher.

Surprisingly little is known about the basic biology of many large raptor species. Zoos and wildlife rehabilitation centers can help remedy this knowledge gap by providing a wealth of data on species whose in situ counterparts are difficult to study. We present one such example here by recording multiple new longevity records for the Barred Owl (Strix varia Barton, 1799). At 34 years and 1 month of age, the longest-lived new record surpasses the previous oldest known individual by a decade. Along with the additional new and already available longevity data we reviewed, the information provided here will prove useful for those working on many aspects of owl biology.

Studies of avian escape behavior have mostly focused on nonbreeding birds, however the costs and benefits of escape behavior are predicted to vary depending on whether or not birds are breeding. Passive nest defenders may escape an approaching threat earlier than would otherwise be the case as an adaptation that helps conceal their cryptic eggs. Alternatively, the investment in the clutch may mean that birds delay escape. We tested these predictions on a population of passively defending Little Tern (Sterna albifrons) and Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) within the Saemanguem reclamation area, South Korea. Incubating terns exhibited longer flight-initiation distances to approaching pedestrians than did non-incubating conspecifics, suggesting early escapes may function to help conceal the locality of the nest. No such effect was evident for Kentish Plover.

Avian beaks are complex and highly specialized structures that if altered could hinder many aspects of bird biology. Here, we provide evidence from incidental sightings of 24 birds from 9 species presenting a mild to severe degree of beak abnormality, including species from Passeriformes, Falconiformes, Sphenisciformes, and Charadriiformes, recorded in Chile (2013–2016). The most common alterations corresponded to crossed beaks and excessive elongation of the upper beak (25% each). The Austral Thrush (Turdus falcklandii; n = 11) and Chilean Mockingbird (Mimus thenca; n = 5) were the birds most frequently recorded with abnormalities. With the exception of the Austral Thrush and Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus), all beak abnormalities mentioned here are the first recorded for each species. Received 11 August 2017. Accepted 18 September 2018.

The Gray Vireo (Vireo vicinior) is currently listed as threatened in New Mexico (USA), and detailed observations of its breeding behavior are limited. Like other vireos, the Gray Vireo builds a woven-cup nest of grasses and adhesive materials such as plant fibers and spider webs. However, no other vireo has been documented crushing, spreading, and incorporating berries into nests. We observed female Gray Vireos (n = 7) crushing and spreading one-seed juniper (Juniperus monosperma) berries over forked tree branches and then marking them with a blade of grass or spider web. Gray Vireos may be using the juniper berries for the potential anti-microbial properties of juniper berry oil described for other species of juniper.

Accumulation of human-made debris in seemingly pristine habitats is a problem occurring across a broad range of ecosystems. Such debris can be detrimental for wildlife, leading to choking, ingestion of toxic materials, entanglement, and obstruction from important feeding and breeding sites. On the Galapagos Islands, an increasing amount of human-made debris is correlated with the growing population size of permanent towns, especially the largest town of Puerto Ayora, located on the island of Santa Cruz. While previous research on the Galapagos Islands has examined the effects of human-made debris on marine animals, less is known about the implications these materials have on native terrestrial species. Here we report on the fatality of a Darwin's finch nestling we believe occurred by entanglement with a human-made string. The string was among other debris dissected from the nest, which had incorporated >7 different types of human-made debris. We discuss how Darwin's finches are responding to their human-altered habitat and the potential consequences.

On 9 December 2016, we observed 10 Mottled Ducks (Anas fulvigula) foraging in a harvested, dry cornfield in south Texas. Several North American waterfowl species in the genus Anas commonly feed in dry agricultural fields; however, this foraging strategy has not been documented in Mottled Ducks during winter prior to this observational account. As corn acreage increases in coastal Texas in conjunction with declining acreage of wetland habitats, Mottled Ducks may opportunistically forage in dry agricultural fields more frequently.

Current evidence suggests that females in some species of songbirds engage in extra-territorial forays, and that the function(s) of such forays varies among species. We examined the movements and behavior of 16 female Indigo Buntings (Passerina cyanea) in east-central Kentucky in an attempt to determine the possible function(s) of their extra-territorial forays. We used radiotelemetry to track the movements of 9 females paired with second-year (SY) males and 7 females paired with after-second-year (ASY) males. Radio-tagged female Indigo Buntings spent an average of 38% of their time off their mate's territories, with no difference in time spent off territory between females paired to SY and ASY males. In addition, the mean time that females spent off their social mate's territory did not vary with female fertility status (prefertile, fertile, or post-fertile). Our results suggest that, regardless of age, female Indigo Buntings did not seek to avoid, and may actively pursue, extrapair copulations when away from the territories of their social mates. Because the time spent in extra-territorial forays did not differ with female fertility status, such forays may also be important in providing females with useful information about their local environments and with access to additional foraging sites.

Female birds tend to lay consecutive eggs in a clutch 24 h apart. Typically, this spacing results in individuals laying within a narrow interval corresponding to a time of day generalizable at the population level. In contrast to this trend, we found that females in a coastal-breeding population of King Rails (Rallus elegans) showed considerable variability in laying times. Variable laying times reveal that female King Rails are not constrained to a specific laying hour by circadian patterns of activity, as has been suggested for other species. We call for researchers to report temporal data on egg laying to revisit the evolutionary significance of laying times and to determine what factors affect, or are affected by, laying at a specific time of day.

Nest loss due to depredation or mortality of nesting females is a primary factor limiting Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) population growth. As such, significant research has focused on identifying nest site characteristics influencing success. While evaluations of factors driving nest success and predation are common, to our knowledge few events of female perseverance leading to nest success have been identified. During a study on reproductive ecology of Gould's Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo mexicana) in Arizona, we observed nesting perseverance of a female Gould's Wild Turkey under multiple, repeated predation threats (known nest predators within 2 m of nest site). The female had 7 uniquely identifiable interactions on incubation days 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 21, and 25 with black bears (Ursus americanus), gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), and white-nosed coatis (Nasua narica), as well as >10 interactions with an Arizona gray squirrel (Sciurus arizonensis). However, the female continued to incubate and successfully hatched the full clutch on 6 August 2017. Our observations suggest that close proximity of known nest predators may not always lead to nest loss, and that individual female responses may vary extensively and contribute to nest success.

We report on a wild Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) that laid and incubated 6 eggs in November 2016 and 2017 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. When the eggs were removed from the 2016 nest on 5 December, 5 were found to be undeveloped; the sixth egg contained a developed embryo that we believe would have hatched within 7–10 d. The viable egg in 2016 was not likely a result of sperm storage by the female, so we concluded that a gander must have also undergone gonadal recrudescence at that time. The same female (as identified by her uniquely coded leg band) was found incubating 6 eggs in the same nest bowl in November 2017, but we are uncertain whether any of the eggs were viable because it was likely too early in incubation for visible development of embryos to have occurred. In both years, mean daily temperatures at the time of rapid follicle development were 2.8 and 13.5 °C higher than the previous 10-year average. The relative contributions of endocrine and environmental cues and how they interact remain poorly understood in waterfowl reproduction, but the ability to develop functional gonads in consecutive autumns and produce a viable embryo after undergoing remigial molt, and presumably photorefactoriness, represents the most extreme documented example of a miscue in gonadal recrudescence in wild North American waterfowl.

The Lesser Crescent-chested Puffbird (Malacoptila minor) is one of the least known species of Bucconidae and the only form classified as endangered. Here we present the first description of the nest and eggs of this species from the Brazilian state of Maranhão. The nest consists of a ∼60 cm tunnel excavated in flat or slightly sloping ground leading to a broader nesting chamber. The floor of the chamber is covered with a thin layer of dead leaves and twigs on which 2–3 eggs are laid. The eggs are pure white, measure 20.30 (SD 0.22) mm by 24.23 (0.21) mm, and weigh 4.25 (0.96) g (n = 4). The nest entrance is surrounded by a ring of small straws and coarse petioles. Nests with a similar structure have been described in other Malacoptila species as well as Monasa and Nonnula.