干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

The recent species status of the Tumbes Swallow (Tachycineta stolzmanni) emphasized our lack of even basic life history understanding for this species. Found only in the threatened seasonally dry tropical forests of the Tumbesian region, T stolzmanni may be at risk itself. We studied breeding birds in northwestern Peru using nest boxes, which supported 37 total nesting attempts during the particularly arid season of 2010-2011. The hot, dry habitat poses unique challenges for the fauna that inhabit it, allowing for insights into the biology of tropical arid environment birds and developments within the realm of Tachycineta comparative ecology. Compared with other members in the genus, T stolzmanni exhibited a smaller clutch size, a reduced egg volume, longer incubation and nestling periods, and a low nestling growth rate. Adults were smaller than their congeners and some individuals exhibited molt-breeding overlap. We argue that due to its restricted range and specific habitat preference, T stolzmanni may be less abundant than is presently recognized and cite the need for establishing an estimate of the global population size in light of rapid habitat degradation and climate change. Accepted 26 March 2012.