Nesting of the scrub tanager (Tangara vitriolina) in andean Ecuador

Abstract

The Scrub Tanager (Tangara vitriolina) occurs in dry inter-Andean valleys of Colombia and northern Ecuador. Even though it thrives in human-made habitats, knowledge about its breeding biology is scarce, with no complete description of its nest. In this paper, I present a detailed description of its nest, eggs, and nestlings, including notes on its breeding behavior. The nest is an open cup constructed with grass fibers, dry sticks, rootlets, plastic fibers, dry leaf litter and other vegetal material, spider web, and mammal hair. It was built near the tip of a hanging vine, supported below by three intertwined twigs, 2 m above ground. The female incubated whitish blue eggs speckled brown for 14-15 days. The male attended closely and brought food to the female several times. Nestlings were fed mostly by the female. The nesting pair did not attempt a second brood at this nest after failure; instead, they collected nesting material from this nest up to three days after nest failure.