Reproductive biology and nest-site selection of the Mato Grosso Antbird Cercomacra melanaria in the Brazilian Pantanal

Economic activities, such as extensive cattle ranching, may seriously threaten the types of forest most important to the Mato Grosso Antbird Cercomacra melanaria, and information on reproductive biology is essential for defining sound conservation and management strategies for the species. Here, we report on the reproductive biology of this species in the Brazilian Pantanal, focusing on attributes such as incubation and nestling periods, as well as characteristics of parental care. The hypothesis that nest occurrence is associated with canopy opening was also tested. Average nest height was 0.98 m; mean nest construction and egg incubation periods were 12.2 and 14 days, respectively; average nestling period was 9.4 days. Both males and females participated in nest construction, egg incubation, and feeding of nestlings. The canopy was consistently more open away from the nests (18.74%) than at nest sites (10.10%; p < 0.0001), indicating that C. melanaria selects nest sites with dense vegetation.