Patterns of territorial space use by Shining Sunbeams (Aglaeactis cupripennis), tropical montane hummingbirds

For many territorial hummingbirds, habitat use is influenced primarily by the interaction between resource acquisition and non-foraging behaviors such as territory advertisement and defense. Previous research has highlighted the importance of foraging-associated habitat features like resource density and distribution in determining the space-use patterns of hummingbirds. Less is known, however, about how habitat selection associated with non-foraging behaviors influences space use by territorial species. We used radio telemetry to examine patterns of territorial space use by Shining Sunbeams (Aglaeactis cupripennis) in high Andean montane forests near Manu National Park, Peru, and Bosque Comunal “El Carmen” near Chordeleg, Ecuador. We quantified within-territory habitat characteristics related to resource acquisition and non-foraging behaviors such as territory advertisement and defense. We found that Shining Sunbeams showed high use of core areas in territories where foraging effort was relatively low. We found no relationship, however, between the position of core areas and habitat characteristics associated with territory defense, predator avoidance, or other non-foraging behaviors. We also found no relationship between use of non-core areas and habitat use based on resource acquisition. Thus, patterns of territorial space use by Shining Sunbeams may be characterized by core areas not determined by foraging behavior. Further studies examining territorial behaviors and the influence of intrusion pressure will help identify the underlying determinants of territory space use by this and other species of Andean hummingbirds. Para muchos colibries territoriales, el uso del hábitat está influenciado principalmente por la interacción entre la adquisición de recursos y los comportamientos no forrajeros, como el anuncio y la defensa territorial. Investigaciones previas han resaltado la importancia de las caracteristicas del hàbitat asociadas con el forrajeo, como la densidad y la distribución de los recursos para determinar los patrones de uso del espacio de los colibríes. Sin embargo, se sabe menos acerca de cómo la seleccion del habitat asociada con los comportamientos de no alimentacion influye en el uso del espacio por parte de las especies territoriales. Utilizamos la radiotelemetria para examinar los patrones de uso del espacio territorial por el Colibrí cobrizo (Aglaeactis cupripennis) en los bosques montañosos altoandinos cerca del Parque Nacional Manu,