Abstract
I studied the ecology of Black-legged (Chunga burmeisteri) and Red-legged (Cariama cristata) Seriemas in the central Paraguayan Chaco from September 1989 to August 1990, including observations of a baited family group of Chunga. Both species are allotopic in habitat use, with Chunga typically associated with drier forested areas and Cariama inhabiting savanna and wetland periphery. Interspecific territories were overlapping. Wind velocity and temperature correlated significantly with activity of Cariama and baite Chunga, respectively. The average density of Chunga was 0.38/km2. Reptiles are an important prey item and I describe an interesting feeding behavior. The breeding season in Chunga takes place during the Paraguayan summer (November – March). Bonding and courtship occurred around November and December, and the following 13 weeks were used for nest building, incubation, hatching, and chick development.
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Brooks, D.M. Ecological notes on Seriema species in the Paraguayan Chaco, with observations on Chunga biology. Rev. Bras. Ornitol. 22, 234–237 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03544250
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03544250