Opportunistic predation of the Roadside Hawk (Rupornis magnirostris) on alates subterranean termites (Coptotermes testaceus) in southwestern Brazilian Amazon

• Published in: Revista peruana de biología Vol. 29; no. 2; pp. 1 - 4
• Main Authors: Barbosa, Raul Afonso Pommer, Reis, Jessica Fernanda Teodoro, Oliveira, Marcela Alvares
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Lima Leonardo Romero Chumpitaz, Editor Jefe 01-05-2022; Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas
• Subjects: Accipitridae; Avifauna; BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION; BIOLOGY; Birds; Colonies; Coptotermes testaceus; DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY; Diet; ECOLOGY; Energy expenditure; ENTOMOLOGY; ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES; EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY; Insects; MYCOLOGY; ORNITHOLOGY; Predation; Predatory behavior; Rainfall; REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY; Rhinotermitidae; Roadsides; Rupornis magnirostris; Rural areas; Termites; Writing; ZOOLOGY; Brazil; Argentina; Amazon Basin; Termite; Alimentación; Amazonia; Roadside Hawk; Taguató Comúm; Amazon; termitas; Feeding; Rondônia
• ISSN: 1561-0837; 1727-9933; 1727-9933
• DOI: 10.15381/rpb.v29i2.21528

We report the opportunistic predation of Roadside Hawk (Rupornis magnirostris - Accipitridae) on subterranean termite (Coptotermes testaceus - Rhinotermitidae). This predatory behaviour was observed during an avifauna survey in the municipality of Candeias do Jamari, Rondônia, Brazil, in the southwestern Brazilian Amazon. There was a great abundance of C. testaceus alates because of heavy rainfall. This is the season when C. testaceus colonies produce alates in large numbers to found new colonies. The Roadside Hawk stayed on its perch and captured winged termites with little energy expenditure. The bird in question appeared to take advantage of the termite mating flight to feed opportunistically on the abundant alates. Although feeding on insects by R. magnirostris is well known, this is the first documentation of feeding on termite alates.