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I. Sazima (2009)
Anting behaviour with millipedes by the dendrocolaptid bird Xiphocolaptes albicollis in southeastern BrazilBiota Neotropica, 9
C. Clark, L. Clark (1990)
"Anting" behavior by common grackles and European starlings.The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 102
D Wenny (1998)
Tree-striped warbler (Basileuterus tristriatus) “anting” with a caterpillarWilson Bulletin, 110
Eloise Potter (1970)
ANTING IN WILD BIRDS, ITS FREQUENCY AND PROBABLE PURPOSEThe Auk, 87
D. Clayton, Jennifer Vernon (1993)
Common Grackle Anting with Lime Fruit and Its Effect on EctoparasitesThe Auk, 110
D. Wenny (1998)
Three-striped warbler (Basileuterus tristriatus) anting with a caterpillarThe Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 110
X. Valderrama, John Robinson, A. Attygalle, T. Eisner (2000)
Seasonal Anointment with Millipedes in a Wild Primate: A Chemical Defense Against Insects?Journal of Chemical Ecology, 26
(1963)
Three species observed anting on a wet lawn
C C Clark, L Clark (1990)
“Anting” behavior by common grackles and European starlingsWilson Bulletin, 102
A. Chisholm (1959)
The history of AntingEmu, 59
P. Weldon, J. Aldrich, J. Klun, J. Oliver, M. Debboun (2003)
Benzoquinones from millipedes deter mosquitoes and elicit self-anointing in capuchin monkeys (Cebus spp.)Naturwissenschaften, 90
Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia, 22(2), 242-243 SHORTCOMMUNICATION June 2014 Record of the White-throated Woodcreeper Xiphocolaptes albicollis using a millipede for anting in Argentina 1,2,3,5 2,4 1,2 Juan Klavins , Emilse Mérida and Noelia A. Villafañe Final de 1° de Mayo, Rivera del Paraná (3370), Puerto Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina. Proyecto Selva de Pino Paraná, Vélez Sarsfield y San Jurjo s/n, San Pedro (3352), Misiones, Argentina. Grupo FALCO, www.grupofalco.com.ar, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Blanco Encalada 4755, Piso 5, Dto B. Ciudad de Buenos Aires (1431), Argentina. Corresponding author: piprites@gmail.com Received on 07 December 2013. Accepted on 28 December 2013. ABSTRACT: We describe the second record of the White-throated Woodcreeper Xiphocolaptes albicollis anting with a millipede in South America, and the first such record for Argentina. The woodcreeper rubbed the millipede against its wings while perched at the base of a tree and on the ground. The anting seemed to not seriously injure the millipede, identified as a species of the Rhinocricidae (Spirobolida). KEYWORDS: White-throated Woodcreeper; Xiphocolaptes albicollis; anting; millipede; preening; Argentina. The term anting is used for a behavior of birds in which about 50-100 cm above ground, and once on the ground. they use arthropods, mostly ants, to rub on their plumage On one occasion the bird flew a few meters away, leaving as part of the birds’ preening process (Chisholm 1959; the millipede on the ground. While photographing the Potter 1970). Several hypotheses have been proposed dropped millipede we noted that it was not severely for anting, including deterring of ectoparasites (Clark injured, and afterwards we moved away to proceed with & Clark 1990; Sick 1997). Another hypothesis is that our observations. The woodcreeper returned in less than ant secretions soothe skin that has been irritated when one minute, picked up the millipede, and proceeded new feathers emerge (Southern 1963; Potter 1970). anting. After 10 min the bird retreated into the forest, thus At present, about 200 bird species (Clayton & Vernon ending our observations. The millipede was identified as a 1993) and mammals have been reported to perform species of the Rhinocricidae (Order Spirobolida). anting (Valderrama et al. 2000; Weldon et al. 2003). Our observations of woodcreeper anting were Among wild birds, anting is performed quickly and similar to those described by Sazima (2009) for the same can be overlooked or mistaken for foraging or simply bird species, except that the bird he observed ingested the as sun/dust-bathing with anting taking place passively millipede at the end of the anting session. As we were (Chisholm 1959; Potter 1970; Wenny 1998). Besides unable to record the end of the anting process, we cannot ants and other noxious arthropods, birds are known to say whether the bird was trying to lessen the effects of use millipedes while anting (Chisholm 1959). Here we ingesting a toxic or distasteful prey as suggested by Sazima report on the White-throated Woodcreeper Xiphocolaptes (2009). The woodcreeper we observed could have been albicollis anting with a millipede, the first record of this biting the millipede to enhance its secretions by accessing behavior for Argentina. the internal reservoirs of glandular fluids, as suggested We observed a White-throated Woodcreeper for monkeys biting millipedes (Valderrama et al. 2000; handling a millipede around noon, on 19 November 2011 Weldon et al. 2003). Careful observation of additional at Cruce Caballero Provincial Park, Misiones, Argentina bird species’ behavior during dust/sunbathing or even (26º31’S, 54º00’E; 550-600 m elevation). During our during regular preening may yield a better understanding observations, the woodcreeper rubbed the millipede of the use of odorous/noxious substances from arthropods against its wings mostly while perched at the base of a tree as part of their preening process. Record of the White-throated Woodcreeper Xiphocolaptes albicollis using a millipede for anting in Argentina Juan Klavins, Emilse Mérida and Noelia A. Villafañe Clayton, D. H. & Vernon J. G. 1993. Common Grackle anting with ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS lime fruit and its effect on ectoparasites. The Auk, 110: 951-952. Potter, E. F. 1970. Anting in wild birds, its frequency and probable We dedicate this article to Juan Mazar Barnett, purpose. Auk 87: 692-713. cornerstone of modern ornithology in South America Sazima, I. 2009. Anting behaviour with millipedes by the and an inspiring naturalist who sought to unravel the dendrocolaptid bird Xiphocolaptes albicollis in southeastern Brazil. Biota Neotropica, 9: 249-252. mysteries of the natural world. We thank A. Bodrati and Sick, H. 1997. Ornitologia brasileira. Rio de Janeiro: Ed. Nova K. Cockle for inviting us to collaborate on the Pino Paraná Fronteira. Forest Project, and A. G. Zubarán, S. Rowland, and L. Southern, W. E. 1963. Three species observed anting on a wet lawn. A. Pereira for identifying the millipede. We also thank Y. Wilson Bulletin, 75: 275-276. Valderrama, X.; Robinson, J. G.; Attygale, A. B. & Eisner, T. 2000. Oniki for her comments on anting and K. McFarland, I. Seasonal anointment with millipedes in a wild primate: a chemical Sazima, P. Vickery, and K. Roesler for critical suggestions defense against insects? Journal of Chemical Ecology, 26: 2781- on the first draft of this manuscript. Weldon, P. J.; Aldric, J. R.; Klun, J. A.; Oliver, J. E. & Debboun, M. 2003. Benzoquinones from millipedes deter mosquitoes and elicit self-anointing in capuchin monkeys (Cebus spp.). REFERENCES Naturwissenschaften, 90: 301–304. Wenny, D. 1998. Three-striped warbler (Basileuterus tristriatus) “anting” with a caterpillar. Wilson Bulletin, 110: 128-131. Chisholm, A. H. 1959. The history of anting. Emu, 59: 101-130. Clark, C. C. & Clark L. 1990. “Anting” behavior by common grackles and European starlings. Wilson Bulletin, 102: 167-169. Associate Editor: Luciano N. Naka Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia, 22(2), 2014
Ornithology Research – Springer Journals
Published: Jun 1, 2014
Keywords: White-throated Woodcreeper; Xiphocolaptes albicollis; anting; millipede; preening; Argentina
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