Discute-se a importância do levantamento qualitativo e quantitativo da comunidade de aves da Fazenda Rio Claro (22°27'S, 48°51'W), Lençóis Paulista, para a avaliação de um fragmento de mata mesófila do interior de São Paulo. Tais levantamentos foram realizados entre agosto de 2001 a julho de 2002. Para o estudo quantitativo utilizou-se da metodologia de Pontos de Escuta. Foram analisados os índices de diversidade e de freqüência de ocorrência dessa comunidade, sendo as suas espécies organizadas tanto em função das categorias alimentares quanto sob o aspecto da ocupação do estrato vegetal. O levantamento qualitativo registrou 216 espécies. Já o quantitativo registrou 74 espécies em 761 contatos, com uma média de 12,7 contatos/amostra. O índice pontual de abundância (IPA) variou de 0,001 (um contato) a 0,07 (53 contatos); aquele da diversidade foi de H' = 3,10, mostrando um aumento significativo entre setembro e novembro; a eqüitatividade média no período foi de E = 0,95. Os insetívoros constituem quase a metade das espécies registradas no levantamento quantitativo (44,6%), seguido por frugívoros (24,9%), onívoros (16,4%), carnívoros (8,5%), nectarívoros (4,2%) e uma pequena proporção de detritívoros (1,4%). A categoria mais abundante no sub-bosque foi a de insetívoros, enquanto que os frugívoros foram os mais abundantes no solo e na copa. A comunidade de aves no fragmento estudado mostrou o mesmo padrão encontrado em outros fragmentos de mata mesófila de mesmo tamanho relativo. Algumas espécies ameaçadas foram encontradas na área de estudo.

Scientists have long been trying to understand why the Neotropical region holds the highest diversity of birds on Earth. Recently, there has been increased interest in morphological variation between and within species, and in how climate, topography, and anthropogenic pressures may explain and affect phenotypic variation. Because morphological data are not always available for many species at the local or regional scale, we are limited in our understanding of intra‐ and interspecies spatial morphological variation. Here, we present the ATLANTIC BIRD TRAITS, a data set that includes measurements of up to 44 morphological traits in 67,197 bird records from 2,790 populations distributed throughout the Atlantic forests of South America. This data set comprises information, compiled over two centuries (1820–2018), for 711 bird species, which represent 80% of all known bird diversity in the Atlantic Forest. Among the most commonly reported traits are sex (n = 65,717), age (n = 63,852), body mass (n = 58,768), flight molt presence (n = 44,941), molt presence (n = 44,847), body molt presence (n = 44,606), tail length (n = 43,005), reproductive stage (n = 42,588), bill length (n = 37,409), body length (n = 28,394), right wing length (n = 21,950), tarsus length (n = 20,342), and wing length (n = 18,071). The most frequently recorded species are Chiroxiphia caudata (n = 1,837), Turdus albicollis (n = 1,658), Trichothraupis melanops (n = 1,468), Turdus leucomelas (n = 1,436), and Basileuterus culicivorus (n = 1,384). The species recorded in the greatest number of sampling localities are Basileuterus culicivorus (n = 243), Trichothraupis melanops (n = 242), Chiroxiphia caudata (n = 210), Platyrinchus mystaceus (n = 208), and Turdus rufiventris (n = 191). ATLANTIC BIRD TRAITS (ABT) is the most comprehensive data set on measurements of bird morphological traits found in a biodiversity hotspot; it provides data for basic and applied research at multiple scales, from individual to community, and from the local to the macroecological perspectives. No copyright or proprietary restrictions are associated with the use of this data set. Please cite this data paper when the data are used in publications or teaching and educational activities.

Abstract. South America holds 30% of the world's avifauna, with the Atlantic Forest representing one of the richest regions of the Neotropics. Here we have compiled a data set on Brazilian Atlantic Forest bird occurrence (150,423) and abundance samples (N = 832 bird species; 33,119 bird individuals) using multiple methods, including qualitative surveys, mist nets, point counts, and line transects). We used four main sources of data: museum collections, online databases, literature sources, and unpublished reports. The data set comprises 4,122 localities and data from 1815 to 2017. Most studies were conducted in the Florestas de Interior (1,510 localities) and Serra do Mar (1,280 localities) biogeographic sub-regions. Considering the three main quantitative methods (mist net, point count, and line transect), we compiled abundance data for 745 species in 576 communities. In the data set, the most frequent species were Basileuterus culicivorus, Cyclaris gujanensis, and Conophaga lineata. There were 71 singletons, such as Lipaugus conditus and Calyptura cristata. We suggest that this small number of records reinforces the critical situation of these taxa in the Atlantic Forest. The information provided in this data set can be used for macroecological studies and to foster conservation strategies in this biodiversity hotspot. No copyright restrictions are associated with the data set. Please cite this Data Paper if data are used in publications and teaching events.

No abstract

Seed-finches are small-sized Neotropical granivorous birds characterized by extremely strong and thick beaks. Among these birds, the Great-billed Seed-Finch Sporophila maximiliani has been selectively and intensively trapped to the extent that has become one of the most endangered bird species in South America, yet its taxonomy remains complex and controversial. Two subspecies have been recognized: S. m. maximiliani (Cabanis, 1851), mainly from the Cerrado of central South America, and S. m. parkesi Olson (= Oryzoborus m. magnirostris), from northeastern South America. Originally, S. m. parkesi was diagnosed as being larger than the Large-billed Seed-Finch, S. c. crassirostris (Gmelin, 1789), but proper comparisons with S. m. maximiliani, which is larger than S. c. crassirostris, were never performed. Here we provide a review of the taxonomic and nomenclatural history of S. maximiliani, reevaluate the validity and taxonomic status of the subspecies based on morphological characters, and significantly revise its geographic distribution. Analyses based on plumage patterns and a Principal Component Analysis of morphometric characters indicated that S. m. parkesi is most appropriately treated as a synonym of the nominate taxon, which results in a monotypic S. maximiliani comprising two disjunct populations. Further, we conducted systematic searches for S. maximiliani in Brazil, in an attempt to obtain natural history information. After more than 6,000 hours of fieldwork in 45 areas of potential and historical occurrence, S. maximiliani was located only in two sites, in marshy environments called veredas, confirming the critical conservation status of this species, at least in Brazil. We discuss the conservation potential for, and the problems involved with, captive breeding of S. maximiliani for reintroduction into the wild.

No abstract

Aim To offer a test of expert knowledge about rarity of twenty Amazon forest bird species following an approach that equates rarity with low site occupancy and formally accounts for imperfect species detection. We define ten pairs of closely related species, each pair with one hypothetically common and one hypothetically rare species. Our null hypothesis is that members of each pair have similar occupancy, with hypothesized differences due to detection errors alone.Location A 1000-ha plot of primary rainforest in the central Brazilian Amazon.Methods We visited each of 55 sampling sites multiple times per season for three field seasons and estimated the probability of site occupancy by each species following a maximum likelihood state-space approach that also estimates the probability that a species is present yet undetected at a site. To maximize detection and account for its variation, we employed three different sampling techniques while systematically training and testing observer's ability to recognize species.Results Occupancy estimates agree with expert predictions in all but two species pairs and show no evidence of clear temporal variation in occupancy between sampling seasons. Detection probability had a positive relation with observer ability, a strong relation to time of day across species, and a strong relation with the use of playback for some species. Detection with point counts and with autonomous recorders varied between species pairs. Main conclusions We reject the null hypothesis of equal occupancy within pairs, concluding that expert knowledge on species rarity is useful and worth eliciting. Our results replace qualitative ratings of rarity with statistical estimates of occupancy, establishing a reliable baseline for future comparisons. Besides illustrating the relevance of expert knowledge, this application to Amazonian birds illustrates a flexible approach that can be used for testing knowledge about rarity for a variety of species groups and spatial scales.

A família Nyctibiidae (urutaus) apresenta sete espécies incluídas em um único gênero Nyctibius, distribuídas por toda a região neotropical desde o México até a Argentina, alcançando sua maior diversidade na região amazônica. São aves de hábito noturno caracterizadas por um distintivo mimetismo em troncos vegetais, onde permanecem imóveis durante o período diurno. Devido seus hábitos noturnos e comportamentos crípticos, o estudo de seus hábitos de vida é excessivamente difícil, o que faz desse grupo um dos menos conhecidos da região tropical. Logo, informações sobre comportamento e história natural da família são muito escassas, e raras são as contribuições a respeito de sua anatomia. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi descrever detalhadamente a osteologia craniana de seis das sete espécies de Nyctibiidae reconhecidas, incluindo Nyctibius griseus, N. grandis, N. aethereus, N. jamaicensis, N. leucopterus e N. bracteatus. Observa-se uma grande variação na osteologia craniana dentro da família, a qual apresenta um crânio bastante modificado e adaptado aos seus hábitos de vida, basicamente no que se refere a abrigar os olhos extremamente desenvolvidos e a proporcionar uma grande abertura bucal. Os ossos que formam o teto da cavidade bucal apresentam um achatamento dorso-ventral, particularmente nos ossos pterigóide e paraesfenóide, e o osso palatino é muito desenvolvido lateralmente. Na região de fusão da maxila com o arco jugal observa-se uma projeção, única entre as aves, a qual é vista até externamente com a ave em vida. O osso vômer tem grande variação dentro da família, apresentando um número variável de projeções rostrais entre as espécies. A região caudal do crânio é bastante larga, havendo grande distância entre os ossos quadrados, os quais são verticalmente posicionados e apresentam um reduzido processo orbital. A mandíbula, elástica e flexível, apresenta uma curta região sinfisiária e articulações sindesmóticas na região mediana dos ramos mandibulares. De forma geral, os Nyctibiidae apresentam um crânio bastante especializado, sendo possível muitas vezes estabelecer relação entre a forma das estruturas e os hábitos de vida das espécies. Mais ainda, a grande variação interespecífica no crânio observada ressalta a necessidade de uma revisão taxonômica das espécies, atualmente incluídas em um único gênero.