Comportamento alimentar e repertório vocal de Brotogeris versicolurus (AVES, PSITTACIDAE)

Abstract

The theme of this dissertation is the vocal communication that accompanies the feeding activity of individuals of the white-winged parakeet species (Brotogeris versicolurus). In the first chapter, the topic covered is eating behavior and items that make up the diet of B. versicolurus, an omnivorous species and well adapted to the urbanized environment. The observation methodology consists of “feeding bouts'', which consists of recording feeding sessions in one or more feeding states in the proportion of time corresponding to the feeding record, and "Scan Sampling”, scanning sampling of individuals sighted during the feeding period for 10 minutes. In 164 observations, it was found that most items consumed were the mesocarp region of immature fruits, followed by seeds and flowers. The most observed eating behavior was to reach and eat in pieces, without ripping out the entire item from the branch. The second chapter describes the vocal repertoire of B. versicolurus in the context of feeding, aggression, and calls in flight, in three frequented areas in Belém, Pará, and recordings of vocalizations emitted by B. versicolurus in their behavioral contexts. Sounds of flight calls, aggression, alarm, and calls for food were found and described. We classified 4 behavioral categories: (1) so-called in-flight contact upon arrival at the target tree; (2) the landed contact call is related to feeding; (3) the aggressive call indicating the alarm call and defense of the territory in agonistic contact and scaring away predators; (4) and eating context related to eating strategies; B. versicolurus They are social birds and live in flocks, maintaining contact while looking for food. They present specific recognition sounds in flight calls distributed across different notes. Aggressive calls indicate agonistic behavior, while alarm calls signal potential threats between groups. White-winged Parakeet presents a combination of distinct sounds involving feeding calls.