First nesting information on the enigmatic Black Bushbird (neoctantes niger)

We present the first nesting information for the Black Bushbird (Neoctantes niger), an enigmatic and poorly known member of the family Thamnophilidae. A hanging bulky cup nest was found in September 2011, in the buffer zone of Manu National Park, Peru. The nest contained a single white egg with scattered dark maroon spots and light streaks and was being attended by a male. The general shape of the nest resembled the deep pouch-shaped nests of other ant-birds (e.g., Hypocnemis, Myrmotherula) but with clear differences in overall dimensions, thickness and amount of nesting material. More information is needed on nest architecture and breeding behavior for the Black Bushbird and all of its possible close relatives. Received 24 April 2013. Accepted 23 August 2013. Key words: Black Bushbird, egg, Neoctantes niger, nest, nesting biology, tropical.
The Black Bushbird (Neoctantes niger) is an enigmatic and poorly known member of the antbird family (Thamnophilidae). One of its most distinctive morphological traits is the bill shape with an [...]