The Status of North American Migrants in Central Amazonian Brazil

14 Pages·2001·1.23 MB·English

THE STATUS OF NORTH AMERICAN MIGRANTS IN
CENTRAL AMAZONIAN BRAZIL ’
DOUGLAS F. STOTZ~
BiologicalD ynamics of Forest Fragments, INPA-Ecologia,
C.P. 478, Manaus, AM CEP 6901 I, Brazil,
Division of Birds, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago,I L 60605, and
Committee on Evolutionary Biology, Universityo f Chicago, Chicago,I L 60637
R. 0. BIERREGAARD~A ND MARIO COHN-HAFT~
Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments, INPA-Ecologia, C.P. 478, Manaus, AM CEP 6901 I, Brazil
PETER PETERMANN
4k.x Planck Institute of Limnology, Department of Tropical Ecology, Pltin, R.F.G.
JAN SMITH, ANDREW WHITTAKER AND SUMMER V. WILSON
BiologicaI Dynamics of Forest Fragments, INPA-Ecoiogia, C.P. 478, Manaus, AM CEP 6901 I, Brazil
Abstract. We review the statuso f North American migrantsi n Amazonia and present
recentr ecordso f the authorsa nd co-workersW. e reportm igrationd ates,m aximum counts
and new distributionali nformationf or 45 speciesI.n cludeda re the first Brazilian records
of Piranga olivacea,t he first Brazilians pecimenso f Contopusv irens,a nd recordso f several
shorebirdsp rimarily restrictedto coastaal reasi n SouthA mericat hat werep reviouslyu n-
recordedfr om inland Amazonia.A mazoniai s southo f the main winteringa reasf or most
North American passerinesh;o wever,a t leaste ights peciesw inter primarily in Amazonia.
Amazoniaa ppearsto be an importantm igratoryr outef or many shorebirdsin, cludingm ajor
portionso f thep opulationso f PIuvialisd ominica, Calidrisfuscicollisa, nd Calidris melanotos.
Key words: Bird migration; distribution;A mazonia; Brazil; shorebirdss; easonality.
INTRODUCTION termann on Ila Marchantaria and by Stotz, Cohn-
Haft, and Whittaker elsewhere in Amazonian
The status of North American migrants in Ama-
Brazil.
zonia is poorly known. This reflects both the
insufficient knowledge of the Amazonian avifau-
STUDY SITES
na in general, and also the concentration of recent
Bierregaard was stationed at Manaus, Amazo-
fieldwork in Amazonia during the local dry sea-
nas, near the conlhtence of the Rio Negro and
son, which correspondst o the North American
Rio SolimBes, as part of the BDFF from 1979
summer. Recent important studies of North
to 1987. The other authors have spent periods
American migrants in Amazonia include Fitz-
ranging from six months to four years in Manaus
patrick (1980) Pearson (1980) and Bolster and
between 1983 and 199 1. Around the city of Ma-
Robinson (1990). Here we report recordso f North
naus, we have engagedi n casual observation of
American migrants from Amazonian Brazil based
birds, including migrants, at a number of sites.
on work by observers associated with the Bio-
Near the city, most of the forest is highly dis-
logical Dynamics of Forest Fragments (BDFF)
turbed. Important sites for observations close to
project near Manaus and on observations by Pe-
Manaus include (see Fig. 1): the Hotel Tropical
(about 18 km northwest of the city center along
the Rio Negro) with disturbed forest and oma-
I Received2 May 1991 . Accepted2 6 March 1992.
2P resenat ddressM: useud e Zoologia,U niversidade mental plantings; the margins of the Rios Negro
de Slo Paula, C.P. 7S1?72io,P aula, SP, CEP 01064, and Solim&, especially near Careiro, the ferry
Brasil. port on the south bank of the Amazon-about
3P resenta ddressS: mithsonianIn stitute,N HB 106,
10 km southeast of Manaus- where sandbars,
WashingtonD, C 20560.
the margins of the rivers and relatively tall sec-
4 Presenat ddressD: epartmento f EcologyE, volution
and OrganismaBl iology,2 000 PercivalS temH all, Tu- ond growth provide the main habitats of interest
lane University, New Orleans,L A 70 118. to migrants; and three suburban neighborhoods
[6081
NEARCTIC MIGRANTS IN AMAZONIA 609
0 10 20 30 km
FIGURE 1. Map ofthe Manaus area with locationsm entioned in text: 1- Acariquara, 2-Careiro, 3 -Coroado,
4-Hotel Tropical, 5-Parque das Laranjeiras, 6-Parque Dez.
on the north side of Manaus-Parque Dez, Par- habitats, secondg rowth and forest edgea t Usina
que das Laranjeiras, and Bairro Coroado. Hab- Balbina, a recently completed hydroelectric dam
itats in thesen eighborhoodsi nclude swampsc re- about 100 km north of Manaus (01”53’S,
ated by the damming of a stream by roads, a 59”28’N), provided a variety of migrant records.
seasonallyi nundated swamp forest and extensive The BDPP study site (2”2O’S, 59”5O’W), ap-
areas of disturbed terra jirme forest and small proximately 80 km north of Manaus, is regularly
farms, as well as second growth around the res- surveyed using mist-nets. Our observations of
idences. In addition, regular coverageo f primary migrants at this site were obtained opportunis-
forest near the INPA meteorological tower, ap- tically while conducting mist-net surveys. The
proximately 50 km north of Manaus along BR site consistso f three cattle ranches that are con-
174 (the highway leading to Roraima and, even- verting terrajrme forest into pastureland. Most
tually, the Venezuelan border) and of aquatic of the area is still forested,b ut there is substantial
610 DOUGLAS F. STOTZ FT AL.
young second growth and pasture. Casual water SPECIES ACCOUNTS
and stock ponds provide habitat for migrant In the accounts that follow, we normally use the
shorebirds. For a more detailed description of names of seasonsi n reference to the seasonsi n
the site, see Stotz and Bierregaard (1989), Love-
the Northern Hemisphere, where these species
joy and Bierregaard( 1990) and Rankin-de Mero-
breed, although most of the records mentioned
na et al. (in press). are from south of the equator, where the seasons
Petermann worked between September 1988
are reversed.
and June 1990 at Ilha da Marchantaria, about Mississippi Rite (Zctinia mississippiensis)-
20 km above Manaus on the Rio SolimGcs.M ost Smith observed an adult on 2 1 November 1985
of these records come from sandbars down-
at Anavilhanas, about 100 km above Manaus on
stream from the island or “floating meadows,”
the Rio Negro. This speciesi s poorly known as
extensive mats of aquatic vegetation, dominated a winterer or migrant. It is known as a migrant
by grasseso f the genera Paspalum and Echi-
south to Panama and then virtually disappears.
nochloa (Junk 1970). It has been recorded occasionally on migration
Other records included here are mainly those in northern Colombia (Hilty and Brown 1986),
of Stotz from Roraima and RondBnia (Fig. 2). but the only other Amazonian record is that of
Stotz observeda nd collected birds at several sites Robinson and Munn from Manu National Park
in Roraima between 7 September and 15 Oc- in southeasternP eru (Terborgh et al. 1984). Win-
tober 1987. The most important sitesi n Roraima tering is known from south of Amazonia in Par-
were: BV-8 (4”29’N, 6 l”o9’W) at approximately aguay (Hayes et al. 1990), Argentina and Bolivia
900 m at the Brazil-Venezuela border, an area (American Ornithologists’ Union 1983, Davis
of grasslandw ith patcheso f forest; along the Rio 1989). Sick (1985) and Stresemann and Amadon
Branco north of Boa Vista (2”49’N, 60”4O’W) to (1979) report it from Brazil, but without specific
the confluence of the Rio Uraricoera and the Rio details.
Tacutu, with gallery forests along the river; Co- Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainson+Stotz
18nia Apiau (2”39’N, 61”12’W), along the east observeda n adult on 17 September 1987 at BV-8
bank of Igarape Serrinha, where the habitat was in Roraima. There are only scatteredr ecords of
predominately terrajirme forest; and Ilha Mara- this speciesi n Brazil, from the southern fringe
ca (3”20’N, 61”25’W) where terra jirme forest, of Amazonia south (Sick 1985). In Venezuela, it
savanna and extensive marshes interdigitate. is known only from Mtrida (Meyer de Schauen-
Cohn-Haft and Whittaker also spent time at see and Phelps 1978). Most records of migrants
Maraca in December 1987. In Rondonia, records are from the Andes or lowlands at their base, but
came from Cachoeira Nazart (9O44’S,6 1”53’W) Hilty and Brown (1986) report records of flocks
on the Rio Jiparand. Stotz accompanied a group from Leticia.
from the Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de Broad-winged Hawk (Buteop Zatypterus)-This
Sao Paulo (MZUSP) and the Field Museum of speciesi s uncommon in tall second growth and
Natural History (FMNH) to this site between 10 forest edge near Manaus both around the city
October and 21 November 1986, and returned and at the BDFF reserves;S totz did not observe
to the site from 2 February to 15 March 1988. it in Roraima, however. The dates range from
At Cachoeira Nazart, the predominant habitat 3 1 October to 13 March with a maximum of four
is terra jirme forest, with small clearings with on 16 December 1984. Willis (1977) reports this
second growth and grass.T here is some season- speciesa s rare at Reserva Ducke. It was observed
ally flooded forest along the river. Sandbars and on 22 days at the Rio Jiparana in Rondania,
river islands provided shorebird habitat in Oc- where Stotz collected a specimen on 6 Novem-
tober and November, but were not exposed in ber. In Rondania, the earliest record was 20 Oc-
March. tober and the latest was 13 March. There were
FIGURE 2. Map of Amazonian Brazil showingl ocationso f major rivers, cities, and localities mentioned in
text: 1- Alter do Chgo, 2-Anavilhanas, 3-Usina Balbina, 4-BDFFReserves, 5-BV-8,6-CachoeiraNazark,
7-Col8nia Apiati, 8-Ilha de Marad, 9-INPA meterologicalt ower, IO-Manacapurk
NEARCTIC MIGRANTS IN AMAZONIA 611
7
Q
z
‘s:
Z
0
[L
612 DOUGLAS F. STOTZ ET AL.
only three previous reports for Brazil from the tober and November. He recorded more than
upper Rio Negro and Mato Gross0 (Pinto 1938, 220 on 18 October 1988. In Roraima, one was
Sick 1985); our observations indicate that Buteo at a small grassyp ond near the Rio SurumC on
platypterus is more widespread in Amazonian 7 September and eight were seen 13 October on
Brazil than previously realized. the Rio Branco north of Boa Vista.
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)-This species is Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squataroZa)-
present throughout the year in small numbers Petermann observed a single bird in winter
along the Rios Negro and Solim&s near Manaus, plumage at Ilha da Marchantaria on 1 November
and very common from September to March. 1989, and Cohn-Haft observed two at Anavil-
The maximum observed in a day is eight on 2 1 hanas on 10 November 199 1. The only previous
December 1985 by Smith. It was common on record from inland Amazonia of this primarily
the Rio Branco north of Boa Vista in mid-Oc- coastalm igrant appearst o be from the Rio Napo
tober and one was soaring over forest, far from of Ecuador (Meyer de Schauensee and Mack
any water, at BV-8 on 17 September. 1982), although the specificd etails of this record
Merlin (Falco columbarius)-An immature fe- are not known to us. It occasionally occurs in
male was observed by Whittaker, with R. Ridge- inland southern South America (Hayes et al.
ly and G. Tudor, at the Hotel Tropical on 21 1990).
October 1990. This is only the second record Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipal-
from Brazil (Sick 1985, the other being from Ba- matus)-One was seen by Smith on 29 Septem-
hia) and appears to be the first from anywhere ber 1985 near Manaus at the Careiro ferry cross-
in Amazonia. It is widespread in northern South ing. A common coastalm igrant in South America,
America during winter, but rather uncommon it is extremely scarcei nland in Colombia where
and local (Hilty and Brown 1986). Hilty and Brown (1986) give only two records,
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)-This and in Venezuela where it apparently occurs oc-
speciesi s a regular but rare winter visitor near casionally in the llanos (Meyer de Schauensee
Manaus and Ilha da Marchantaria; singles have and Phelps 1978). We are unable to find any
been observed from 5 October to 1 May. The other inland Brazilian records or records from
speciesi s more common during migration, but elsewhere in Amazonia.
birds have been recorded through the winter at Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria)- A com-
Manaus. In addition, Whittaker observed one at mon migrant and winter visitor, records near
Alter do Chao, on the east bank of the Rio Ta- Manaus range from 19 July to 21 April, with a
pajos, just upstream from Santarem on 10 No- maximum of 14 on 11 January 1990 at Ilha da
vember 1988. Albuquerque (1978) and Rise- Marchantaria. We have found this species, the
brough et al. (1990) give no Amazonian records, most common and widespread migrant shore-
although Albuquerque suggestsa migration route bird in Amazonia, primarily at small ponds and
running down the Rio Negro and acrossc entral even puddles in open areas, but also regularly on
Amazonia. Sick (1985) reports a December rec- sandy beachesa long rivers. Stotz found it to be
ord from the state of Amazonas without further regular in Roraima and Rondonia in these hab-
details. Apparently, Peregrines are regular in itats as well.
winter along the lower Rio Napo and the Am- LesserY ellowlegs (Tringaflavipes) - This spe-
azon near Iquitos, Peru (T. Schulenberg; T. A. cies is an uncommon fall migrant at Manaus,
Parker, pers. comm.). These records suggestt hat where unrecordedi n spring but with recordsf rom
a small population winters along the Amazon 21 August to 11 November. A single bird win-
and its main tributaries. tered at Ilha da Marchantaria from December
Lesser Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica)- 1988 to 16 February 1989. A bird observed by
This speciesi s rare in winter and common as a Cohn-Haft and Whittaker at Ilha Maraca on 7
fall migrant at Manaus where recordse xtend from December may have been still migrating. The
14 September to 24 March. Winter records are maximum in a day is 6 on 21 August 1988.
exclusively from pastures, while migrants are Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)-
regular on sand beachesa nd mud flats along riv- This speciesi s an uncommon fall migrant at Ma-
ers. At Ilha Marchantaria, Petermann has found naus; records range from 21 August to 22 No-
them exclusively in the fall from 11 September vember with a maximum of 20 on 21 August
to 6 December with the largest numbers in Oc- 1988. The only spring record is one on 28 March
NEARCTIC MIGRANTS IN AMAZONIA 613
1983. At Ilha da Marchantaria, this species is Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)-
regular in fall (maximum 35 on 20 October 1989) Our only records are an observation by Whit-
with small numbers of wintering birds and oc- taker of a single adult on a small pond at Careiro
casional spring observations. The latest spring on 29 March 1987 and five records from Ilha da
record is on 1 March. In Roraima, Stotz observed Marchantaria in November and February with
singlesa t Boa Vista, BV-8 and on the Rio Branco. a maximum of eight on 16 February 1989. This
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis ma&aria)-This is an almost strictly coastal species in South
speciesi s a common migrant and winter visitor America, with Hilty and Brown (1986) mention-
at both Manaus and Ilha da Marchantaria. Dates ing only one inland record and Meyer de
range from 14 July to 4 May. The maximum Schauenseea nd Phelps (1978) calling it “occa-
observed is 29 at Ilha da Marchantaria on 8 No- sional inland” in northern Venezuela. In Ama-
vember 1989. In Roraima, up to five were daily zonia, the only other record away from the mouth
along the Rio Branco 13-16 October, and one of the Amazon is a specimen from Santarem
was at BV-8 on 10 September. Although occa- collected by A. M. Olalla on 18 November 1932
sionally seen at small ponds, around Manaus it (Griscom and Greenway 194 1).
is much more regular on beaches and sandbars Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)-Our only
along the larger rivers. record near Manaus is one bird at the BDFF
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)-Six study site (Fazenda Esteio) on 6 August 1985
sightings from Ilha da Marchantaria, on 12, 18, (Smith, J. Bates). Petermann found this species
and 24 October 1988 and 20 October 1989, and regularly at Ilha da Marchantaria, mainly in the
25-26 September 1991 (Cohn-Haft) have been fall, with a maximum of 24 on 14 September
recorded. On 18 October 1988, there were two 1989, but small numbers wintered and a few
birds, otherwise records are of singles. The only occurred during spring migration. In Roraima,
other published recordso f this speciesa way from Stotz saw eight on October 13 (and collected a
the coast in South America are sight records in juvenile female) and four on 16 October along
the puna zones of Chile and Peru (Fjeldsa and the Rio Branco. This is a common coastal mi-
Krabbe 1990). grant and winterer along the coasts of South
Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda)- America. Sick (1985) mentions it only from the
Petermann found small numbers at Ilha da Mar- coast of Brazil. Specimens from Cachuela Es-
chantaria between 12 October and 16 Novem- peranza, Dpto. Beni, Bolivia (Gyldenstolpe 1945),
ber, with one observedo n 25 January 1990. Stotz and Engenho de Capitlo Gama, Mato Gross0
observed one on 2 and 4 February 1988 along a (Naumberg 1930) are the only other published
dirt road through forest at Cachoeira Nazart, recordsf rom Amazonian sites.H owever, MZUSP
Rondonia. This species migrates regularly contains four specimensc ollected by A. M. Olal-
through Amazonia, but mainly winters south of la between 9 and 20 March 1969 at Santa Maria
Amazonia (White 1988). He shows three recent de ArapemP, Para near the mouth of the Rio
and three pre-1930s winter records (November Tapajos.
through February) in Amazonian Brazil, as well White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicol-
as one Peruvian and one Ecuadorian Amazon /is)-This speciesi s the most common fall mi-
wintering record. grant among peepsn ear Manaus, mainly at small
Sanderling (Calidris aZba)-Petermann has ponds in pasturesa t the BDFF study site and on
three records from Ilha Marchantaria, 20 Oc- sandbars at Ilha da Marchantaria. Our records
tober, 14 November (seven birds) and 2 1 De- at Manaus range from 31 August to 22 Novem-
cember 1989. In addition, MZUSP contains a ber. However, Ilha da Marchantaria additionally
juvenile female of this speciesc ollected by a mu- produced records in December and February.
seum expedition on 6 October 1968 on the Rio The maximum is 46 on 12 September 1989 at
Solimoes, near Fonte Boa, Amazonas (2”32’S, Ilha da Marchantaria. In Roraima, Stotz ob-
66”OS’W). The only other inland Amazonian rec- served two on 13 October along the Rio Branco
ord for this speciesi s a sight record from Manu north of Boa Vista. At the Rio Jiparana, this
National Park in southeasternP eru (Bolster and speciesw as recordeda t casual water and on sand
Robinson 1990). There are few other inland rec- beaches along the river on four occasions be-
ords in South America (Hilty and Brown 1986, tween 24 October and 19 November.
Hayes et al. 1990). Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)-This
614 DOUGLAS F. STOTZ ET AL.
speciesi s an uncommon fall migrant at Manaus 1983). However, unlike other specieso f shore-
where records extend from 31 July to 22 No- birds that pass over Amazonia on their way to
vember. At Ilha da Marchantaria, it was record- wintering grounds, this species is virtually un-
ed into winter by Petermann, with the latest on known in Bolivia, where there are only two rec-
10 February 1989. It was unrecorded in Roraima ords (Pearson 1975, Parker and Rowlett 1984).
by Stotz, but at the Rio Jiparana in Rondonia it Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)- Whittaker
was the commonest migrant shorebird, observed and Cohn-Haft observed one in first-winter
on 10 days with a maximum of ten between 24 plumage perched on a floating log on 26 Novem-
October and 19 November. ber 1987 at Usina Balbina, a recently filled res-
Stilt Sandpiper (Culidris himantopus-) . Our ervoir about 100 km north of Manaus, and Whit-
only recordsa re two birds observed by Smith on taker observeda n immature bird 27 October 199 1
4 September 1985 and two by Cohn-Haft on 15 along the Rio Negro. This speciesw inters widely
September 1989 at the BDFF reserves.T he sta- along South American coasts,b ut the number of
tus of this speciesi n Amazonia is uncertain. The inland records is small. These appear to be the
only other records from Amazonian Brazil ap- first records from inland Amazonian Brazil, al-
pear to be specimens at MZUSP from Tauari, though it is apparently regular at the mouth of
on the Rio Tapajos, collected 17 February 1963 the Amazon (Sick 1985). DiCostanza (1978) re-
and another from Port0 Velho, Rondania col- ports five inland records, only one in Amazonia
lected 3 November 1954. It is unrecorded in Am- (Bolivia). Since then Remsen and Ridgely (1980)
azonian Venezuela (Meyer de Schauensee and and Cardiff (1983) have reported an additional
Phelps 1978), and there is only one record from four inland records, three from Amazonia, in
east of the Andes in Colombia (Hilty and Brown Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. Except for a May
1986). However, Parker et al. (1983) consider it record from Iquitos, all the inland records with
an uncommon migrant in Peru, and Pearson specifici nformation fall in November or Decem-
(1980) considersi t a regular transient from east- ber and involve first-year birds.
em Ecuador south to northern Bolivia. Perhaps Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus america-
it migrates primarily through the western fringe nus)-One bird was observed on 14 May 1989
of Amazonia, before going east to its main win- by Cohn-Haft, D. Weeks, and T. Towles at the
tering range from southern Brazil and eastern conlhtence of the Rio Negro and Rio Solimoes.
Bolivia south to northern Argentina. Stotz collected one at Cachoeira NazarC on 8
Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Tryngitess ubrufiol- June 1986. The status of this bird in Brazil, es-
/is)-Our only record is three birds observed by pecially Amazonian Brazil is poorly known. The
Stotz in grasslandsn ear the Boa Vista airport on distribution of records (Sick 1985) and recent
28 September 1987. This species is a transient records from Sgo Paul0 (Willis and Oniki 1985)
through Amazonia, where it has been recorded suggestth at, in Brazil, this speciesw inters mainly
severalt imes in the Brazilian Amazon (Sick 1985) south of Amazonia. However, it is common in
and is consideredu ncommon in Amazonian Peru winter north of Amazonia in Colombia (Hilty
(Parker et al. 1982). It is unrecorded from south- and Brown 1986) and in Venezuela (Meyer de
em Venezuela (Meyer de Schauenseea nd Phelps Schauenseea nd Phelps 1978).
1978). Common Nighthawk (Chordeilems inor)-This
Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica)- species is an uncommon migrant at Manaus,
Whittaker saw a lone bird on 22 September 1990 where fall records range from 5 October to 8
along the road from Manaus to Manacapuru, December. The only spring sighting recorded is
west of the Rio Negro, at km 40. At Ilha da three seen by Cohn-Haft on 15 and 16 March
Marchantaria, Petermann observed one on 7 De- 1989 at the INPA meteorological tower. How-
cember 1988, and others on 20 October and 14 ever, at both Usina Balbina and Rio Urucu (80
to 26 November 1989 (the same bird?). Stotz km southwest of Tef”e, in western Amazonas),
observed one in basic plumage in a large collec- Cohn-Haft found large numbers during the first
tion of shorebirds along the Rio Branco north of half of April 1989. Willis and On&i (1988) also
Boa Vista on 13 October. These appear to be the report this speciesf rom Balbina in April. In Ron-
first records from Amazonia, although it winters donia, upwards of 50 individuals were observed
in southern South America south of the Ama- daily from our arrival on 10 October until 3
zonian basin both inland and coastally (AOU November, when they abruptly disappeared.T he
NEARCTIC MIGRANTS IN AMAZONIA 615
speciesh as been recorded locally in Amazonia, it seems likely that the main wintering grounds
including Colombia (Hilty and Brown 1986) and are west of the Andes. However, records from
Peru (Parker et al. 1982). There do not appear Amazonian Ecuador (specimens in FMNH) and
to be any previous recordsf rom Amazonian Bra- Peru (Parker et al. 1982) suggestt hat a portion
zil, although it is recorded from much of south- of the population, at least, winters in Amazonia.
eastern Brazil. The winter range of Chordeilesi s Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)- We
poorly known, but appears to be much smaller have three records near Manaus: two birds in
than “throughout South America south to north- pastureland north of the city on 29 March 1983,
ern Argentina” (AOU 1983). The speciesi s com- and one along the Rio Solimi5es about 20 km
mon in Paraguay in mid-winter (Hayes et al. west of Manaus on 12 December 1984, both seen
1990), and regular then in southeastern Brazil by Stotz; and Wilson observed a single bird with
(Stotz pers. obs., specimens MZUSP). Farther many Fork-tailed Flycatchers (Tyrannus savana)
north, the only specific published mid-winter in Bairro Coroado (at Conjunto Acariquara) on
record is from VaupCs, Colombia in February 12 February 1991. Sick (1985) mentions only
(Hilty and Brown 1986). However, it has been three Brazilian records from the states of Mato
recordedr egularly in January from along the Rio Grosso, Amazonas and Bahia. However, this
Napo in easternP eru (G. Rosenberg,p ers.c omm.; species is common in the lowlands of eastern
Schulenberg, pers. comm.) suggesting that its Peru and northern and eastern Bolivia; it must
winter range may include western Amazonia, at be regular throughout Amazonian Brazil, al-
least locally. though apparently much less common than near
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)- Whitta- the base of the Andes. Recent records of this
ker observed two in a mixed group of swifts, speciesa long the Rio Jurul, near Eirunepe (2 on
including C. chapmani and C. spinicaudaa t Ma- 11 October and 1 on 13 October 199 1) by Whit-
naus on 13 January 199 1. Compared to Chaetura taker seem to fit this pattern.
chapmani, thy appeared longer tailed, showed Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus boreulis)-
less contrast between the rump and mantle, and This speciesi s a regular but rare winter visitor
a more contrasting pale throat. In the absenceo f around Manaus along foreste dgep erchedo n dead
a specimen and given the difficulties of identi- snags. Dates of our 16 observations range from
fication in the genus Chaetura, this record is not 26 October until 19 March (at Usina Balbina).
completely satisfactory. The only previous re- Stotz also observed a single bird at Colonia de
port of Chimney Swift from Brazil is that of Gil- Apiau in Roraima on 10 October. The only spec-
liard (1944) who reported what he believed to imen from Brazil is a bird collected by Olalla at
be Chimney Swifts entering chimneys in late Itacoatiara on 31 March 1937 (Pinto 1944).
March at Manaus, and is even more unsatisfac- However, the species has been recorded else-
tory. where near Manaus at Reserva Ducke (Willis
The main identification problem involves 1977) and Usina Balbina (Willis and Oniki 1988).
Chaetura andrei, an austral migrant which breeds In addition, there are several sight records from
in eastern Brazil and apparently winters in north- southeastern Brazil (Willis et al., in press), and
em South America (Sick 1985). It is extremely Serra dos Carajls (Scott 1988). It appears that
similar to Chimney Swift, and almost certainly Olive-sided Flycatcher is thinly distributed across
could not be distinguished in the field from that much of Brazil, although its main wintering
species.T he January record of Whittaker seems grounds is along the lower slopes of the Andes
unlikely to be C. andrei, since they are breeding up to about 2,000 m.
in eastern Brazil at that time; however Gilliard’s Eastern Wood Pewee (Contopusv irens)-This
report comes from a time of year when numbers speciesw inters uncommonly (maximum three in
of andrei in southern Brazil have declined from a day) at the edge of primary forest at the BDFF
their mid-summer abundance (Stotz, pers. obs.) reserves, where our records extend from 30 Oc-
and could easily have been that species,a s sug- tober to 8 March. There do not appear to be any
gestedb y Sick (1985). previously published records from Brazil. Sick
The winter range of Chimney Swift remains (1985) indicates that virens occurs in western
poorly known. It is common locally in western Brazil, but gives no specificr ecords.B razil is not
Peru (Parker et al. 1982), and has been recorded included by Traylor (1979) in the wintering range
in western Colombia (Hilty and Brown 1986), so of this species.A specimen in MZUSP, collected
616 DOUGLAS F: STOTZ ET AL.
by Olalla on 4 November 1936 at Santa Cruz on em Peru (G. Rosenberg, pers. comm.; T. Schu-
the Rio Junta and reported as C. cinereuss uri- lenberg, pers. comm.) and the paucity of records
namensis by Pinto (1944), has been examined from southern South America (Ridgely and Tu-
by Stotz and is a specimen of virens.I n addition, dor 1989) suggestt hat the major wintering areas
the speciesw as observed on 22 days at the Rio for this speciesa re in Amazonia.
Jiparana with records from 11 October until 13 Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)-Common in
March. Stotz collected specimenst here on 5 No- pastureland and along the rivers near Manaus,
vember and 6 March. Whittaker observed one at Ilha da Marchantaria and throughout Rorai-
on 3 1 December 1988 on the Rio Urucu. It ap- ma, Barn Swallows have been recorded at Ma-
pears that virens is widespread, but uncommon, naus from 4 September to 10 May; a single
in western Amazonian Brazil. It is much more was observed by Whittaker on 10 June 1990. At
common at the base of the Andes in eastern Peru Ilha da Marchantaria, this speciesa rrives in Au-
(Stotz, pers. obs.). gust. Beginning in September, thousands roost
Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum)-Our in the floating meadows. Petermann found the
only record is of a calling bird observed by Stotz largestn umbers in April when over 30,000 swal-
in Manaus on 15 December 1984. The bird gave lows, predominately Barn Swallows occurred
a typical “fee-bee-o” call, as this species often there. Occasional birds remain in June and July
doesi n winter. A specimen collecteda t Santartm around the island (observations of at least 5 dif-
on the lower Rio Tapajos on 24 February 1978 ferent birds). Two June records for Colombia
(Sick 1985) is apparently the only other record mentioned by Hilty and Brown (1986) are the
for Brazil. E. alnorum is a common winterer in only other published mid-summer records in
the lowlands of eastern Peru in second growth South America. Stotz found them common in
and is probably regular through much of western the grasslandsa t BV-8 in Roraima beginning 7
Amazonia, although it was not encountered in September and had scattered records elsewhere
Rondonia in three months of field work between in Roraima.
October and March. Cliff Swallow (Hirundopyrrhonota)-Two were
Purple Martin (Progne subis)-A common seen by Smith on 1 October 1986 about 30 km
winter visitor near Manaus, and occasional on north of Manaus along BR 174. Petermann had
Ilha da Marchantaria, Purple Martin roosts of two at Ilha da Marchantaria with other swallows
up to several hundred individuals occur along on 26 April 1990. Whittaker also observed two
the Rio Solimoes and Rio Negro along back- at Alter do Ch%o on 14 November 1988. Sick
waters and lakes near Manaus, as well as in the (1985) mentions a record from Amazonas in No-
city itself. Our records extend from 2 August to vember. Otherwise, it seems unrecorded from
11 April. Other observers (T. Sanaiotti, in litt.) Amazonia. Cliff Swallows are rarely reported in
have reported this species throughout the year South America on migration to and from their
near Manaus. Despite the recent focus on eastern wintering grounds in southern Brazil, Paraguay
Brazil as the main wintering range of this species and Argentina.
(Ridgely and Tudor 1989), our records indicate Veery (Catharus fuscescens)-A rare migrant
a substantial Amazonian wintering population. through the Manaus region, this specieso ccurs
Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia)-Bank Swal- mainly in primary forest. Most records are of
lows are regularly observed during both fall and mist-net captures at the BDFF reserves. Of six-
spring migration at Manaus. Over 5,000 seen by teen captures, 13 fall between 2 1 February and
Whittaker on 10 May 1990 at the mouth of the 10 April, while only three have been captured
Rio Negro is the only large concentration at Ma- during the North American autumn when rec-
naus. At Ilha da Marchantaria, Riparia is present ords range from 3 to 28 November. We have
from September to May with much reduced nine additional sight records from February
numbers during the winter. In May, thousands through April. In Rondania, the situation is re-
of birds roosted in the “floating meadows.” Stotz versed, nearly all records came from the North
observed two with the large numbers of Barn American autumn. Only one individual was net-
Swallows at BV-8 in Roraima on 13 September, ted there in February and March, while it was
and one at Colonia Apiati on 4 October. observed or netted on 11 days between 20 Oc-
Although mid-winter numbers decline around tober and 19 November. The highly seasonal
Manaus, records of large numbers in northeast- pattern of occurrence at these two sites suggests
NEARCTIC MIGRANTS IN AMAZONIA 617
that this species undergoes regular movements are three records in primary forest at the INPA
within Amazonia. In the north temperate au- meteorological tower accompanying mixed spe-
tumn, the bulk of the population presumably cies canopy flocks. Our records range from 13
moves south through western Amazonia. The September to 12 February. This speciesa ppar-
width of this postulated migration corridor is not ently winters primarily north of the Amazon ba-
clear, but it may be rather narrow; there is only sin (Meyer de Schauenseea nd Phelps 1978, Hilty
a singler ecorde achf or easternP eru (Parker 1982) and Brown 1986). Only small numbers occur
and for Amazonian Colombia (Hilty and Brown south of the Amazon River, where the southem-
1986). The northward return from the wintering most record appearst o be one observed by Stotz
grounds apparently takes place farther east in and T. Schulenberg in Rondonia at Cachoeira
central Amazonia. The occurrenceo f this species Nazart on 21 October.
in Caribbean Colombia strictly as a fall transient Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)-The field
(Hilty and Brown 1986) lends further support to identification of northern migrant V. olivaceus
the hypothesis of an elliptical route. It seems remains a problem, given a large resident pop-
likely that this species spends winter primarily ulation of this species.T he best fieldmarks ap-
in the cerrado region of southern Brazil and east- pear to be the brighter red eye, white vent (rather
em Bolivia, given the lack of mid-winter speci- than yellow) and sharper face pattern of the
mens from Amazonia, and several winter spec- northern migrants; it should be noted that the
imens from Mato Gross0 (Sick 1985). eye and vent color of first year nominate oliva-
Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus)- ceus, the migratory race, resemble those of the
This speciesi s a rare migrant at Manaus. In con- resident populations. Careful observations by
trast to Veery, C. minimus is recorded approx- Wilson and Cohn-Haft indicate the presence of
imately in equal numbers during the period 15 small numbers of northern migrants around Ma-
October to 9 December (six mist net captures, naus and at the BDFF reservesw ith datesr anging
five sight records)a nd 1 March to 14 April (seven from 3 October to 14 March. Cohn-Haft suggests
mist net captures,f our sight records).L ike Veery, that only the migratory form occursi n the mixed
it doesn’t appear to winter near Manaus; a bird speciesc anopy flocks of undisturbed terra jirme
netted on 3 February 198 1 is the only record forest. The relative dearth of specimens from
outside the above dates. C. minimus is almost Amazonian Brazil (of 43 V. olivaceusa t MZUSP
completely unknown from south of the Amazon. collected in Amazonia between September and
Parker (unpubl. data) has a November sight rec- March, only six represent northern migrants)
ord of a Catharus thrush from the Rio Tapajos, compared to eastern Peru (of 11 specimens in
probably of this species,a nd Ridgely and Tudor FMNH collected in eastern Peru between Sep-
(1989) shows its wintering range including all of tember and March, seven are northern migrants),
eastern Peru, although the basis for this is un- suggeststh at the northern migratory populations
certain. It remains unclear where the Gray- of this species may have a distribution pattern
cheeked Thrushes that we capture at Manaus similar to that of Contopusv irens,w here the bulk
may spend the winter. of the population winters at the base of the Andes
Neither of theset hrushesi n winter reachest he and small numbers occur eastwardi n Amazonia.
high densities of Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia)-Two
ustulatus)o n the lower slopeso f the Andes, where recordsn ear Manaus exist for this species,w hich
it can be the commonest bird in mist net samples is common locally in Roraima. Stotz and Bier-
(D. Willard, pers. comm.). We suspectt hat this regaard observed a female-plumaged bird in a
reflectst he greatera rea of their wintering grounds, flowering tree with a tanager flock at the INPA
as well as the fact that their overall populations meteorological tower on 3 December 1984. On
are smaller than that of C. ustulatus. 26 October 199 1, Cohn-Haft observed a female-
Black-whiskeredV ireo ( Vireoa ltiloquus)-This plumaged bird in willows at Ilha Marchantaria.
species winters uncommonly in the vicinity of In Roraima, Stotz found this speciest o be com-
Manaus. Most records come from tall second mon in September and October (as did Whit-
growth where it usually occurs alone in the can- taker and Cohn-Haft in December) in gallery for-
opy. However, R. Mesquita (in litt.) has three est along the Rio Branco, in trees in residential
records of this speciesf oraging on the fruits of areas and in patches of trees and bushes in sa-
Clusiag randifora at the BDFF reserves,a nd there vanna.