Journal Article

Confirmed nesting of Common Pauraque

LaPergola, Joshua B, Curry, Robert L, Martinez-Gomez, Juan E

2024

Overview

Published accounts of the Common Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis) on Isla Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico, date back at least 72 years, yet there exists no evidence in the literature of the species breeding on the island. Here we report the first scientific descriptions of nesting by Common Pauraque on Cozumel. During fieldwork in 2008 and 2009, we opportunistically documented 9 nests, including 4 with eggs and 5 with chicks. Clutch size for all nests with eggs was 2 whereas nests observed with young consisted of 1 (N=3) or 2 (N= 2) nestlings. To complement our observations, we searched available citizen science data and discovered one additional record of nesting in early June 2017 and a possible second nest in late May 2018. Collectively, these observations indicate that Common Pauraque breeds on Cozumel from at least mid-May into July. However, surveys throughout the year are required to determine whether the population on Cozumel breeds seasonally, breeds year-round, or has a more complex breeding phenology. Additional work is especially needed given that we observed some of the active nests during one of Cozumel's wettest months (June) and previous work has hypothesized that caprimulgids generally are more restricted to nesting at drier times of the year. Received 22 April 2023. Accepted 3 March 2024.

• Publisher: Wilson Ornithological Society
• Subject: Citizen scientists / Ornithological research