Description of the nest and eggs of the Black Metaltail (Metallura phoebe) in high Andean Polylepis forest | Descripción del nido y los huevos del colibrí Metallura phoebe en el bosque altoandino de Polylepis
2020
Mamani-Cabana, Nicolas W.
The genus Metallura has 9 species in South America distributed mostly at high elevation along the length of the Andes from Bolivia to Venezuela. Six species are known from Peru, 3 of which are endemic, among them M. phoebe, which is distributed between 1,500 and 4,500 m.a.s.l., and inhabits montane scrublands, stands of Puyas (Puya raimondii and P. rauhii), and forests of Polylepis. The present report describes 2 nests found with eggs at 3,670 m.a.s.l. in a high Andean forest of Polylepis rugulosa in the department of Arequipa in southern Peru on 25 March 2016 (Nest 1) and 22 August 2016 (Nest 2). The nests were cup-shaped, constructed of moss and feathers, and placed 1.8–3.5 m above the ground in Polylepis trees. Both nests were built into the underside of larger disused nests, most likely belonging to a species of Asthenes. This report provides an unusual observation of use of another bird's old nest, and differs from previous descriptions of nest placement of this species. Measurements of nests and eggs were taken for the lower nest.
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