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<p>Territorial behaviour, while widespread among birds, remains poorly studied in tropical regions. Here, we investigated the territorial behaviour of the Vulnerable ochre-breasted pipit <i>Anthus nattereri</i> in the Upper Rio Grande Grasslands, state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. Through a year-round monitoring of both ringed and non-ringed birds (which were individually identified by song features), we found that the species exhibits a seasonal territorial strategy. During the late dry season and the first half of the wet season, coinciding with the species’ breeding period, individuals defend territories primarily through aerial displays. Mean territory size based on the 95% kernel isopleth was 2.04 hectares (ranging from 0.46 to 5.26 hectares), while mean territory size based on the 80% kernel isopleth was 1.18 hectares (0.28–2.77 hectares). Overlap between neighbouring territories were frequent but small and restricted to the territory borders, with agonistic encounters being relatively rare, especially between neighbours (“dear enemy” relationship). Territories were predominantly located on hilltops and/or smooth slopes covered by native grasslands, with few or no shrubs, always on well-drained soils. The species primarily occupied grassland patches ranging from early to intermediate stages of post-fire regeneration. Wildfires only disrupted territories that have been completely burned, with birds that inhabited partially burned areas staying in their territories. Ochre-breasted pipits appear to be well adapted to living in different post-fire regeneration age, and the potential benefits of controlled burning practices for enhancing landscape heterogeneity warrant further investigation.</p>

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Dancing around a fire: unveiling the territorial strategy of ochre-breasted pipits Anthus nattereri, with insights on their habitat use

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年1月7日

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  • Vitor Torga Lombardi,
  • Ricardo Camargos de Meireles,
  • Leonardo Esteves Lopes

摘要

Territorial behaviour, while widespread among birds, remains poorly studied in tropical regions. Here, we investigated the territorial behaviour of the Vulnerable ochre-breasted pipit Anthus nattereri in the Upper Rio Grande Grasslands, state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. Through a year-round monitoring of both ringed and non-ringed birds (which were individually identified by song features), we found that the species exhibits a seasonal territorial strategy. During the late dry season and the first half of the wet season, coinciding with the species’ breeding period, individuals defend territories primarily through aerial displays. Mean territory size based on the 95% kernel isopleth was 2.04 hectares (ranging from 0.46 to 5.26 hectares), while mean territory size based on the 80% kernel isopleth was 1.18 hectares (0.28–2.77 hectares). Overlap between neighbouring territories were frequent but small and restricted to the territory borders, with agonistic encounters being relatively rare, especially between neighbours (“dear enemy” relationship). Territories were predominantly located on hilltops and/or smooth slopes covered by native grasslands, with few or no shrubs, always on well-drained soils. The species primarily occupied grassland patches ranging from early to intermediate stages of post-fire regeneration. Wildfires only disrupted territories that have been completely burned, with birds that inhabited partially burned areas staying in their territories. Ochre-breasted pipits appear to be well adapted to living in different post-fire regeneration age, and the potential benefits of controlled burning practices for enhancing landscape heterogeneity warrant further investigation.