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The east slope of the tropical Andes possesses one
of the most diverse avifaunas on Earth2. Despite
this, the breeding biology of Andean forest birds is
poorly known13. Basic data for Colombian birds are
presented in Hilty & Brown14, whilst Fjeldså &
Krabbe8summarised information for birds in the
temperate Andes, and Greeney et al.9are
documenting the natural history of Ecuador’s
avifauna. Data on the breeding of Peruvian birds,
however, are more scattered. Given the limited
information on natural history of Andean montane
forest birds, even fragmented data merit
publication, to build knowledge useful in
developing conservation policy9. Here, we present
breeding data for 21 species in Yanachaga-
Chemillén National Park, Peru, including several
for which previous details were very limited.
Study site and Methods
We conducted field work in November 2006 at two
sites in Yanachaga- Chemillén National Park, dpto.
Pasco, central Peru: on 5–10 November at El
Huampal (10º11’S 75º34’W), at km 61 on the
Oxapampa–Pozuzo road, and on 11–14 November
at quebrada San Alberto (10º32’S 75º21’W). Field
work at El Huampal was at elevations of
1,000–1,300 m, between km 61 and 55 of the
Oxapampa–Pozuzo road, along trails near El
Huampal guard station and at Pan de Azucar, c.2
km above there. Habitat is primary and secondary
upper tropical/lower subtropical forest (‘montane
evergreen forest’23), on the steep slopes of the
narrow río Pozuzo Valley. Field work at quebrada
San Alberto concentrated on the trail from the park
boundary (2,350 m) to the pass at Abra Esperanza
(2,700 m), in lush, epiphyte- laden cloud forest that
gives way to stunted, mossy elfin forest near the
pass. Chusquea bamboo is abundant in the
understorey, especially at higher elevations. The
park’s avifauna is poorly known25 and the only
extensive ornithological survey of the Cordillera
Yanachaga was in 198220. We made observations on
breeding opportunistically, as part of a multi- taxa
survey of the park’s biodiversity1. Birds were
surveyed through visual observations, tape-
recordings, mist- netting and some collecting.
Specimens (INRENA permit 008745-AG), which
are held at the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale,
Carmagnola, Italy (MCCI) and the Universidad
Nacional Agraria La Molina, Lima, Peru (UNALM),
were checked for evidence of breeding condition.
Results
Andean Guan Penelope montagnii.—A recently
fledged chick (Fig. 1) with adults on 14 November
at quebrada San Alberto. Breeding biology almost
unknown: in Colombia, juveniles seen in June,
whilst in Bolivia the species is thought to breed
November–February5.
Blue- banded Toucanet Aulacorhynchus coerule-
icinctis.—On 13 November, we flushed a juvenile
from an apparent nesting cavity above quebrada
San Alberto, at c.2,550 m. It was only able to fly a
few metres before awkwardly landing in the
understorey. Unable to take off again, it sought
cover, uttering loud alarm- calls that attracted
nearby adults. The bird was flushed from a cavity
c.80 cm above ground on a vertical bank beside the
trail, amongst dense, tangled, moss- covered roots.
The only other data suggest breeding occurs
January–April in Peru and August–January in
Bolivia21.
Streaked Tuftedcheek Pseudocolaptes boisson-
neautii.—Adult feeding a begging juvenile above
quebrada San Alberto on 13 November. Breeding
biology very poorly known; the only data on
seasonality are from Colombia; dependent juveniles
in September18 and birds with enlarged gonads
July–October8.
Notes on the breeding of birds in Yanachaga- Chemillén
National Park, Peru
Ottavio Janni, Giovanni Boano, Marco Pavia and Giorgio Gertosio
Received 28 February 2007; final revision accepted 11 March 2008
Cotinga 30 (2008): 42–46
Se presenta información acerca de la nidificación de 21 especies de aves en el Parque Nacional
Yanachaga- Chemillén, dpto. de Pasco, Perú; incluso de algunas especies, como Penelope montagnii,
Aulacorhynchus coeruleicinctis,Thripadectes holostictus,Phylloscartes parkeri, Myiobius villosus y
Chlorophonia cyanea, sobre las cuales la información publicada es muy escasa. Nuestros datos
parecen indicar un aumento en la actividad reproductiva al final de la época seca en los bosques
nublados de Perú. La biología reproductiva de la avifauna de los bosques tropicales y subtropicales
andinos sigue siendo muy poco conocida, y por esta razón la publicación de datos básicos puede ser
una contribución útil para documentar la historia natural de estas aves.
42
Cotinga 30
Cotinga30-080617:Cotinga 6/17/2008 8:11 AM Page 42
Striped Treehunter Thripadectes holostictus.—
Male with enlarged testes (9.6 mm; MCCI 2557)
collected at El Huampal on 9 November. Breeding
biology poorly known; the only data concern
juveniles/immatures in September in Colombia and
February in Peru (dpto. Pasco), and birds with
enlarged gonads in Colombia in August8.
Wedge- billed Woodcreeper Glyphorynchus
spirurus.—Male with enlarged testes (7.3 mm;
UNALM specimen) collected at El Huampal on 9
November. Data on seasonality from the Andes only
available from Colombia, where birds with enlarged
gonads recorded January–April14.
Plain Antvireo Dysithamnus mentalis.—Male
with enlarged testes (7.6 mm; UNALM specimen)
collected at El Huampal on 6 November. Breeding
biology relatively well known27, but the only data on
seasonality in the Andes are from Colombia; birds
with enlarged gonads in April–May in the Central
Andes and Perijá Mountains, and birds with
enlarged gonads in March–July and dependent
young in July and September in the West Andes14.
Cinnamon- faced Tyrannulet Phylloscartes
parkeri.—A pair feeding a begging juvenile on 9
November above El Huampal. The juvenile agreed
well with the only published description of this
plumage7. The only published breeding data
concern several presumed family groups, including
juveniles, at Cerro de Pantiacolla, dpto. Madre de
Dios, southern Peru, in November 19857.
Streak- necked Flycatcher Mionectes striaticol-
lis.—Two males with enlarged testes (7.0 and 6.0
mm; MCCI 2559 and UNALM specimen) collected
at quebrada San Alberto on 13 November. In the
south- east Peruvian Andes breeding- condition
males were recorded in the late dry / early wet
season, in September–December6; in north- east
Ecuador, breeding activity was also concentrated in
the wet season, in January–August, peaking
April10.
Olive- striped Flycatcher Mionectes olivaceus.—
Two males with enlarged testes (7.5 and 6.1 mm;
UNALM specimen and MCCI 2572) collected at El
Huampal on 9–10 November. Data on seasonality
from the Andes are available from the Perijá
Mountains, Colombia, where breeding- condition
birds were taken in April and immatures in July14.
Scale- crested Pygmy Tyrant Lophotriccus
pileatus.—On 10 November, a pair with a
dependent juvenile near km 54 of the
Oxapampa–Pozuzo road, at c.1,300 m. Birds in
breeding condition found in March–June in
Colombia14, but no data on seasonality from Peru.
The distinctive juvenile, of which we obtained the
first photographs (Fig. 2), was recently illustrated19,
though it is mislabelled as an adult female (R.
Restall in litt. 2007). The bird we observed differed
from the adult in its conspicuous, complete white
eye- ring, lack of crest, unscaled rufous crown,
plainer underparts with no hint of streaking, a pale
brownish wash on the upper breast and somewhat
browner upperparts.
Tawny- breasted Flycatcher Myiobius villosus.—
Male with enlarged testes (5.4 mm; UNALM
specimen) collected at El Huampal on 9 November.
Notes on the breeding of birds in Yanachaga- Chemillén National Park, Peru
43
Cotinga 30
Figure 1. Andean Guan Penelope montagnii chick, quebrada
San Alberto, Yanachaga- Chemillén National Park, Peru, 14
November 2006 (Giorgio Gertosio)
Figure 2. Juvenile Scale- crested Pygmy Tyrant Lophotriccus
pileatus, above El Huampal, Yanachaga- Chemillén National
Park, Peru, 10 November 2006 (Giorgio Gertosio)
Cotinga30-080617:Cotinga 6/17/2008 8:11 AM Page 43
Almost nothing appears to have been published on
breeding in this species.
Andean Cock- of- the- Rock Rupicola peruvianus.
—A nest with two recently hatched chicks on a
small ledge on a rocky cliff c.3 m above a rushing
torrent at El Huampal on 7 November. The nest— a
concave cup lined with vegetable matter, typical of
Rupicola— was located by park guards, who also
found another four active nests along a 400-m
stretch of the same river in the same period. Data
on seasonality indicate that the main breeding
season in Colombia is February–July, whilst in
Bolivia egg- laying occurs in August22, and active
nests in north- west Ecuador have been recorded
July–February11. Moult data indicate breeding in
the latter half of the year in the south of the
range22, which concurs with our findings.
Grey- breasted Wood Wren Henicorhina
leucophrys.—Two males with enlarged testes (7.4
mm and 6.0 mm; UNALM specimen and MCCI
2571) collected at quebrada San Alberto on 13
November. In the Colombian Andes, breeding noted
December–June, concurrent with White- breasted
Wood Wren H. leucosticta17.
Paradise Tanager Tangara chilensis.—A pair
repeatedly carrying nesting material at Pan de
Azucar on 9 November, gathering moss from tree
branches. In Peru, nest building noted in June in
the south- eastern Amazonian lowlands26.
Purple Honeycreeper Cyanerpes caeruleus.—A
family group including a begging juvenile on 7–10
November, near km 59 of the Oxapampa–Pozuzo
road above El Huampal. No published breeding
data from Peru, though its breeding biology
elsewhere is relatively well studied15.
Stripe- headed Brush Finch Buarremon
torquatus.—Male with enlarged testes (9.9 mm;
MCCI 2561) taken at quebrada San Alberto on 13
November. In Colombia, breeding- condition birds
recorded January–August14.
Slaty Brush Finch Atlapetes schistaceus.—A
family group including a recently fledged juvenile
(very obvious gape) at Abra Esperanza on 13
November. Juvenile plumage is quite variable in
this species19. The bird we observed was of central
Peruvian A. c. taczanowski, the juvenile plumage of
which is undescribed. It was similar to the adult,
but with a much- reduced (almost absent) white
throat, a shorter moustachial stripe that appeared
better- defined, duller blackish cheeks, and a paler,
duller rufous crown that was less bushy. In the
Central Andes in Colombia, begging juveniles (of
the nominate race) noted April and June14, whilst in
Peru (taczanowski), juveniles with adults recorded
June–July in dpto. Huánuco8.
Spectacled Whitestart Myioborus melanocephalus.
—Recently fledged juvenile with adults in a mixed-
species flock at quebrada San Alberto on 13
November. In dpto. Junín, just to the south, recently
fledged juveniles reported in December4, and to the
north, in dpto. Huánuco, in June8.
Dusky- green Oropendola Psarocolius
atrovirens.—Male with enlarged testes (19.8 mm;
MCCI 2564) collected at El Huampal on 7
November. In Bolivia, nests recorded
July–November, and it has been suggested, based
on moult timing, that birds in southern Peru breed
later16.
Orange- bellied Euphonia Euphonia
xanthogaster.—Male carrying a faecal sac near km
55 of the Oxapampa–Pozuzo road on 9 November;
male with enlarged testes (7.0 mm; MCCI 2562)
collected at El Huampal on 7 November. Breeding
data from Peru unavailable; in western Colombia,
nests found November–April, whilst birds in
breeding condition have been collected May–July in
the Perijá Mountains on the Venezuela/Colombia
border14.
Blue- naped Chlorophonia Chlorophonia
cyanea.—On 7 November we found an active nest
near km 58 of the Oxapampa–Pozuzo road above El
Huampal, at c.1,200 m. The nest was in a moss-
covered cavity of a large boulder on a landslide, c.1
m above ground. It was impossible to approach the
nest, but both adults repeatedly brought food to it
on 7–10 November. The location agrees with those
of nests in Santa Marta, Colombia, in small cavities
or crevices in overhanging cliffs or banks24. The only
breeding data from Peru concern fledglings in dpto.
Cusco in April8.
Discussion
The frequency with which evidence of breeding—
especially dependent juveniles— was encountered
in a relatively brief period suggests that November
is near the end of the breeding season for many
species in Yanachaga- Chemillén National Park. At
Oxapampa, the wet season is considered to be
October–April, with most precipitation in
December–March3; data from quebrada San Alberto
for 2003–04 suggest that November marks the end
of the dry season (<150 mm of precipitation), whilst
the rainy season commences in earnest in
December (c.450 mm) and persists until early
April3. Our observations were made during the
transition from the dry to the wet season, though
preceding weeks had been unusually wet (D.
Catchpole pers. comm.). Data on breeding seasons
Notes on the breeding of birds in Yanachaga- Chemillén National Park, Peru
44
Cotinga 30
Cotinga30-080617:Cotinga 6/17/2008 8:11 AM Page 44
for Andean forest birds in Peru are few, though
Fitzpatrick & Stotz7indicate that in foothill forest
in southern Peru activity peaks in
August–November, i.e. in the late dry season. Our
observations also confirm breeding activity in the
late dry season for many Andean birds. However,
2006 was an El Niño year, which may have affected
the breeding of cloud forest birds: unpublished data
from Manu National Park suggest that the
breeding peak for many species (e.g. Marcapata
Spinetail Cranioleuca marcapatae, Slaty Tanager
Creurgops dentatus, Orange- eared Tanager
Chlorochrysa calliparaea, Blue- necked Tanager
Tangara cyanicollis, Paradise Tanager and
Olivaceous Siskin Carduelis olivacea) is about a
month earlier in El Niño years (H. Lloyd in litt.
2007).
Acknowledgements
We thank INRENA for the necessary permits, park
director Eduardo De La Cadena and the guards
Werner and Manuel for making our visit possible,
Mario De Col, Dr William Huggard- Caine, Ing. Manuel
Rios Rodriguez, and Prof. Martha Williams of the
Universidad Agraria Nacional La Molina for
invaluable logistical assistance, fellow expedition
members Stefano Mazzotti and Roberto Sindaco for
their companionship, Damien Catchpole for meteoro-
logical data and Maria Luisa Salazar for also assisting
the field work. Robin Restall kindly provided scans of
several plates from Birds of northern South America
ahead of publication, Misa Labarile improved the
Spanish abstract, and Steve Pryor assisted with
references. Harold Greeney and Huw Lloyd reviewed
the paper, providing many useful comments. This is
publication no. 2 of the ECOMUSA project.
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24. Todd, W. E. C. & Carriker, M. A. (1922) The birds of
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25. Valqui, T. (2004) Where to watch birds in Peru.
Lima: Graña Press.
26. Wood, T. M., Gallo, F. & Donahue, P. K. (1992)
Observations at a Paradise Tanager nest. Wilson
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27. Zimmer, K. J. & Isler, M. L. (2003) Family
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Edicions.
Ottavio Janni
Via Monte Muto 29, I-81016 Piedimonte Matese (CE),
Italy. E- mail: coeligena@hotmail.com.
Giovanni Boano
Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Carmagnola, Via
San Francesco di Sales 188, I-10022 Carmagnola (TO),
Italy. E- mail: g.boano@gmail.com.
Marco Pavia
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di
Torino, Via Valperga Caluso 35, I-10125 Torino, Italy.
E- mail: marco.pavia@unito.it.
Giorgio Gertosio
GPSO, c/o Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di
Carmagnola, Via San Francesco di Sales 188, I-10022
Carmagnola (TO), Italy. E- mail: mail@giorgiogertosio.it.
Notes on the breeding of birds in Yanachaga- Chemillén National Park, Peru
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