Home Range And Habitat Preferences Of The Banded Ground-Cuckoo (Neomorphus Radiolosits)

The Banded Ground-cuckoo (Neomorphus radiolosus) is a nu-e, endangered, and poorly known species endemic to the Choco Biogeographic Zone. We summarize 7 months of data from radio tracking an adult in northwestern Ecuador. Home range estimates were 42.2 ha (minimum convex polygon) and 49.9 ha (95% kernel analysis); the core area was 3.4 ha (50% kernel analysis). The bird favored undisturbed habitat and avoided secondary forest. It was primarily insectivorous and rarely associated with army ants (Eciton sp.) and not with mammals. Breeding occurred from March through June and the marked bird was seen with an unmarked individual througout, the study. The Banded Ground-cuckoos a large ionic range, limited dispersal ability, and apparently depends on undisturbed forest. Deforestation and habitat fragmentation appear to be the gravest threats facing the species.