﻿436 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. lOo 



The habitat of this ibis was exclusively open savanna in the vicinity 

 of water. The local distribution, coupled perhaps with seasonal 

 wanderings, made it diflBcult to encounter the bird at will. In July 

 and August 1944 the species was the third commonest wader at 

 savanna ponds near Caicara. It was not found at all in that area 

 in February 1948. The species was customarily seen in flocks of 5 

 to 10 birds, approximately 20 individuals being the greatest number 

 recorded in one day. While the bird was presumably present through- 

 out the year, it was recorded only during January, June, July, August, 

 and October. 



The caU note was a loud, unmistakable tau-ta-co, strongly accented 

 on the second syllable. At times, particularly when flying, the bird 

 uttered only the first syllable, tau, which sounded somewhat similar 

 to old models of automobile horns. 



The "tautaco," as this bird is called locally, in imitation of its call 

 notes, forages at times on the dry savanna, although rarely far 

 from water. 



AJAIA AJAJA (Linnaeus) 



Platalea ajaja Linnaeus, Systema naturae, ed. 10, vol. 1, 1758, p. 140 ("in America 

 australi" = Jamaica from first citation). 



SPECIMEN COLLECTED 



1 9 , Caicara, June 2, 1947; gonads very small; iris brown, bill light blue-gray; 

 gizzard contained large beetles; plumage very abraded. 



This species is apparently rather local in distribution. It was a 

 common wader at the savanna ponds near Caicara, with as many as 

 30 birds seen at one time during July and August 1944. More gen- 

 eraUy the species was encountered in small groups of four or five 

 bu'ds, with singles often recorded. It was present within the study 

 area from May through August, apparently absenting itself from the 

 area during the remaining months even though sufficient surface water 

 was present. 



Savanna ponds form the preferred habitat of the spoonbill, although 

 it was also recorded occasionaUy at ponds in the deciduous seasonal 

 forest. It was rather inclined to feed at night, often spending the 

 day quietly perched in trees and thus appearing considerably rarer 

 than it reaUy was. 



Local name, "cuchardn," large spoon. 



Family ANATIDAE: Ducks, Geese, and Swans 



DENDROCYGNA VIDUATA (Linnaeus) 



Anas viduata Linnaeus, Systema naturae, ed. 12, vol. 1, 1766, p. 205 (Cartagena, 

 Colombia) . 



