Andean Glacier Bird - Diuca speculifera

Glacier nests of Diuca speculifera at Quelccaya Ice Cap - image gallery

We observed nests of all ages at Quelccaya. Some were fresh-looking and probably used during the most-recently completed breeding season, while others were completely disarticulated assemblages of plant remains, years to decades old. During 2008 fieldwork several nests were found in situ, one of which contained two eggs measuring 25-30 mm in length. More typically, nests had fallen from the ablating glacier margin and were found on rock or gravel below the ice. Nest material was often found frozen to the glacier at or below the original nest site. All of these situations are illustrated by the 4 pages of images below, obtained during fieldwork between 2005 and 2008.  BACK

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Last updated: 30 October 2008
Doug Hardy, UMass Geosciences