Nesting of Micrastur semitorquatus Vieillot, 1817 (Falconiformes: Falconidae) inside of an urban man-made housing in the southern of Santa Catarina, Brazil

Abstract

Micrastur semitorquatus is the largest member of its genus, live in large forests, but have also been observed in riparian forests. It occurs in a wide variety of tropical forested habitats from central México to southern of South America and feeds on birds, mammals and reptiles. We recorded a nesting of Collared Forest-Falcon inside an urban man-made housing, located adjacent to a remnant of secondary forest of the Atlantic Forest in the city of Criciúma, southern of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The nest was found by the owners of the edification in a room in the second floor. After five weeks of incubations, we recorded the predation of the eggs, without however having registered the likely predator. After the predation event, the individuals of M. semitorquatus had not been sighted or heard in the nest site or in the surrounding area. The records of the nesting of this species in man-made housing suggest an adaptive behavior in search of nesting places due to habitat loss.