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MIXED-SPECIES

BIRD FLOCKS IN

SOUTHEASTERN

PERU

Chestnut-eared Aracari

Paradise Tanager

fruit collection, Cocha Juarez

Golden-headed Manakin

Red-headed Manakin

Paullinia sp.

Chestnut-winged Hookbill

Cycloptera sp.

Typophyllum sp.

Acanthops tuberculata

Caligo sp.

snake-mimicking chrysalis

Swallowtail chrysalis

Papilio sp.

Wedge-billed Woodcreeper

MIXED-SPECIES FLOCKS

Characteristics of flocks• insectivorous species

• permanent associations with jointly held territories

• understory flocks & canopy flocks

• up to 20 or more species at one time in understory flocks

• up to 30 or more species at one time in canopy flocks

• composition of core species similar from flock to flock

• one pair of each species with their young of the year

• jointly defended territory

• all species nest within the joint territory

• flock members spend their lives in the same flock

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Advantages of Flocking

• protection from predators

• members have use of a larger exclusive area than they would be able to control individually

Barred Forest-Falcon

CORE SPECIES

UNDERSTORY MIXED-SPECIES FLOCKS

Elegant WoodcreeperOlive-backed Foliage-GleanerPlain XenopsBluish-slate AntshrikeDusky-throated AntshrikeWhite-flanked AntwrenLong-winged AntwrenGray AntwrenWhite-eyed AntwrenTawny-crowned GreenletRed-crowned Ant-Tanager

SWITCHING SPECIESWedge-billed WoodcreeperOlivaceous WoodcreeperYellow-margined Flycatcher

PATCH SPECIES

Fasciated AntshrikePlain-winged AntshrikeWhite-shouldered AntshrikeSpot-winged AntshrikeGray Antbird

Buff-throated WoodcreeperPlain-throated AntwrenBlack-faced Antbird

TEMPORARY & OCCASIONAL SPECIES

CORE SPECIES

CANOPY MIXED-SPECIES FLOCKS

Chestnut-shouldered AntwrenYellow-Olive FlycatcherDusky-capped GreenletWhite-winged Shrike-TanagerFlame-crested TanagerWhite-shouldered Tanager

REGULAR SPECIESWhite-fronted NunbirdOlivaceous WoodcreeperLineated WoodcreeperChestnut-winged HookbillChestnut-winged Foliage-GleanerRufous-rumped Foliage-GleanerRufous-tailed Foliage-GleanerStreaked XenopsSpot-winged AntshrikeSclater’s AntwrenPygmy AntwrenGray AntwrenOchre-bellied FlycatcherForest ElaeniaWhite-lored TyrannuletSlender-footed TyrannuletYellow-crowned TyrannuletBlack-capped BecardPink-throated BecardWhite-vented EuphoniaOrange-bellied EuphoniaRufous-bellied Euphonia

TEMPORARY SPECIESParadise TanagerGreen & Gold TanagerTurquoise TanagerOpal-crowned TanagerOpal-rumped TanagerBlue DacnisBlack-faced DacnisYellow-bellied DacnisPurple HoneycreeperGreen Honeycreeper

canopy mixed-species flock territories

understory mixed-speciesflock territories

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Flock species are able to coexist because they exploit different niches,

foraging in slightly different manners for different types and sizes of prey.

Wedge-billed Woodcreeper

Buff-throated Woodcreeper

Red-billed Scythebill

Gray-crowned Flycatcher

Olivaceous Flatbill

Orange-bellied Euphonia

Gilded Barbet

White-winged Shrike-Tanager - canopy flock sentineland leader

male

female

Bluish-slate Antshrike - understory flock sentinel

and leader malefemale

Some Boreal Migrants That Join Mixed-Species Flocks

Blackpoll Warbler

Scarlet Tanager

Red-eyed Vireo

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Some Austral Migrants that Join Mixed-Species Flocks

Swainson’s Flycatcher Brown-crested

Flycatcher

Greenish Elaenia

Pygiptila stellaris

Thamnophilus

schistaceus

Thamnomanes caesius

Thamnomanes

ardesiacusPygiptila, Thamnophilus & Thamnomanes Antshrikes

Myrmotherula axillaris

Myrmotherula Antwrens - part 1Myrmother

ula hauxwelli

Myrmotherlua

menetriesii

Myrmotherula

longipennis

Myrmotherula sclateri

Myrmotherula

brachyura

Myrmotherula

leucopthalmusMyrmotherula Antwrens - part 2

Philydor & Automolus Foliage-Gleaners

Philydor erythrocerc

um

Automolusinfuscatus

OrnateAntwren

OrnateAntwren

WarblingAntbird

StriatedAntbird

OrnateAntwren

Ihering’sAntwren

PeruvianRecurvebill

Dusky-cheekedFoliage-gleaner

Rufous-headedWoodpecker

Red-billedScythebill

Brown-rumpedFoliage-gleaner

BambooAntshrike

WarblingAntbird

ManuAntbird

Goeldi’sAntbird

Cabanis’Spinetail

Large-headedFlatbill

Dusky-tailedFlatbill

FlammulatedPygmy-Tyrant

White-cheekedTody-Tyrant

Long-crestedPygmy-Tyrant

RufousTwistwing

Red-eyedVireo

Scarlet Tanager

Blackpoll Warbler - adult male

Blackpoll Warbler

Eastern Kingbird

Swainson’s Thrush

Green and Gold Tanager

Schizolobium sp.

Chorisia insignis and Schizolobium sp.

ground level

subcanopy -21 meters

above ground

canopy view at InkaTerra’s Reserva Amazonica (formerly Cuzco-Amazonica)

structure of a tropical rainforest

A giantCeiba pentandra -

Silk-cotton or Kapok Tree

at Tres Chimbadas

An emergent Brazil Nut tree at Explorer’s Inn

mass of lianas on a tree trunk

vine-covered trunk

Rufous Motmot

Squirrel Cuckoo

White-necked

Puffbird

Common Potoo

Combretum assimile

Gould’s Jewelfront

Orange-cheeked Parrot

Red and Green Macaw

Purple Honeycreeper

Chorisia insignis