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Breeding biology of the Critically Endangered Cherry-throated Tanager Nemosia rourei

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 July 2025

Diego Hoffmann ,
Gustavo Rodrigues Magnago ,
Marcelo Renan de Deus Santos ,
Carlos Hartur Ribeiro Noia ,
Athos José Rodrigues de Souza ,
Victória Carolina Costa Faria ,
Thieres Daleprane Fiorotti ,
Gabriel Scaldaferro Bonfa ,
Tomás Gonçalves Capdeville  and
Gabriel Augusto Leite
...Show all authors
Diego Hoffmann*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ciências Agrárias e Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, São Mateus, Espírito Santo, Brazil
Gustavo Rodrigues Magnago
Affiliation:
Independent researcher, Serra, Espírito Santo, Brazil
Marcelo Renan de Deus Santos
Affiliation:
Instituto Marcos Daniel, Serra, Espírito Santo, Brazil
Carlos Hartur Ribeiro Noia
Affiliation:
Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo , Alegre, Espírito Santo, Brazil
Athos José Rodrigues de Souza
Affiliation:
Instituto Federal do Espírito Santo , Santa Teresa, Espírito Santo, Brazil
Victória Carolina Costa Faria
Affiliation:
Independent researcher, Serra, Espírito Santo, Brazil
Thieres Daleprane Fiorotti
Affiliation:
Independent researcher, Cariacica, Espírito Santo, Brazil
Gabriel Scaldaferro Bonfa
Affiliation:
Independent researcher, Linhares, Espírito Santo, Brazil
Tomás Gonçalves Capdeville
Affiliation:
Departamento de Vertebrados, Setor de Ornitologia, Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Gabriel Augusto Leite
Affiliation:
WildMon, Science Department, Dale, TX, USA
Fábio Schunck
Affiliation:
Comitê Brasileiro de Registros Ornitológicos, São Paulo, Brazil
Fábio Raposo do Amaral
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade Federal de São Paulo , Diadema, São Paulo, Brazil
Benjamin Timothy Phalan
Affiliation:
Centre for Conservation of Atlantic Forest Birds, Instituto Claravis, Parque das Aves, Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brazil
*
Corresponding author: Diego Hoffmann; Email: diego_hoffmann@hotmail.com
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Summary

The “Critically Endangered” Cherry-throated Tanager Nemosia rourei is endemic to the Atlantic Forest of south-eastern Brazil, and extremely rare for reasons that are not yet fully understood. We monitored reproductive activities of the only known individuals of the species, at two sites, between October 2018 and November 2023. The birds foraged in social groups of 5–8 individuals. Ten nests, built in trees at heights of 12–26 m, were monitored through continuous direct observation. Most reproductive activity occurred between October and end of November, with one further nest found in March. Clutch size was 3–4 eggs, the incubation and nestling periods were 16 days, and the chicks were fed mainly on invertebrates. Up to six nest helpers, likely young from previous seasons, assisted with the collection of nest material, feeding the chicks, and defending the nest. Reproductive success was 50%, with losses due to climatic conditions (rain and cold) and predation, but may have been enhanced by the efforts of the researchers in scaring away potential predators including Spot-billed Toucanet Selenidera maculirostris and Black Capuchin Sapajus nigritus. These findings reinforce the value of detailed observation of social groups and their nests, and continuing efforts to deter predators. Further research could address how parental care and nest helpers affect reproductive success. The availability of large trees with abundant lichens may be a limiting factor for the reproductive success of species in the long term, and so protecting and restoring habitat with such features is crucial for the long-term conservation of this species.

Keywords

Atlantic ForestBrazilConservationCooperative breedingThraupidae

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Type
Research Article
Information
Bird Conservation International , Volume 35 , 2025 , e22
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of BirdLife International

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