| Heath, M., and M. Hansell. 2002. Weaving techniques in two species of Icteridae, the Yellow Oriole (Icterus nigrogularis) and Crested Oropendola (Psarocolius decumanus). Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Occasional Paper 11:144-154. ABSTRACT.--African weaverbirds (subfamily Ploceinae) use a variety of weaving stitches in nest construction, which suggests that in these woven nests building behaviour is particularly complex. However, birds in several other families also make hanging nests of entangled vegetation, the most impressive being nests made by the New World orioles and oropendolas (family Icteridae). Examination of nests of the Yellow Oriole (Icterus nigrogularis) and Crested Oropendola (Psaracolius decumanus) in this study demonstrates that a similar range of stitches are used by these species compared with the Ploceinae. The nests of both species, however, make particular use of two simple stitches, the half hitch and simple loop; both species also use a simple weaving technique. Spiral binding is shown by both species, but was at its highest density around the entrance of the nests of the Crested Oropendola. The difficulty of weaving compared to other techniques and the extent of its occurrence among birds are discussed. RESUMEN.--Las aves tejedores (subfamilia Ploceinae) de Africa utilizan una variedad de puntadas tejedoras para la construcci�n de sus nidos, lo cual sugiere que el comportamiento de construir nidos avitelados es muy complejo. Sin embargo, hay aves de algunas otras familias que tambi�n hacen nidos suspendidos con vegetaci�n embrollada, las m�s impresionantes son las de los conotos y turpiales (familia Icteridae) del Nuevo Mundo. En este estudio se examin� los nidos del Gonzalito (Icterus nigrogularis) y el Conoto Negro (Psaracolius decumanus) encontrando que hay una ampla similitud entre las puntadas usadas por estas especies y los Ploceinae. En la construcci�n de sus nidos ambas especies utilizan particularmente dos puntadas sencillas, el nudo medio y el lazo sencillo y tambi�n usan una t�cnica sencilla de tejer. Ambas especies usan el ligaz�n espiral, cuya densidad fue mayor alrededor de la entrada del nido del Conoto Negro. Se discute aqu� la dificultad de tejer comparada con otras t�cnicas, y la ocurrencia de tejido entre las aves. KEY WORDS.--Crested Oropendola, Icteridae, Icterus nigrogularis, nest construction, Ploceinae, Psarocolius decumanus, Yellow Oriole, weaving techniques |
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| STUDIES IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO ORNITHOLOGY HONOURING RICHARD FFRENCH Edited by Floyd E. Hayes and Stanley A. Temple Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Occasional Paper 11, 2002 |