Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 5.9 Guans can be found in the trees near the forest edge, as shown here in Costa
Rica. (Photo by author.)
during the wet season and at the start of the dry season when flowers are present.
Parrots, parakeets, and the magnificent macaws are brightly colored fruit and seed
eaters in the forest.
The Neotropical seasonal forest hosts a variety of ground birds, including ter-
restrial cuckoos, curassows, guans, chachalacas, and tinamous, as well as doves
(see Figure 5.9). Their diets consist of small reptiles and insects, as well as fruit
found on the forest floor.
The Neotropical dry forests house a variety of carnivorous birds. Diurnal rap-
tors include hawks, hawk eagles, and a diversity of falcons and kites found along
rivers and waterways. Owls are the nocturnal hunters within the forest. Vultures
are important carrion feeders. In the dry forests of northwestern Costa Rica, the
Black-headed Vulture is often seen perched in groups on rock outcrops or drifting
high over the forest in search of food.
Forest trees provide shelter and nest-building material for many birds. They are
also great places for hunting insects and other prey. In seasonal forests, Oropendu-
las build long-hanging nests. These nests help to keep snakes away from their
young nestlings. Weaver birds in the African dry forests build similar nests.
Neotropical birds come in many shapes, sizes, and colors, with varied behav-
iors and feeding specializations. This diversity of appearance and lifestyle allows
for a great variety of species to exist within the seasonal forests. Some endemic
Search WWH ::




Custom Search