The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 124 ( 1 ): 57 - 65 , 2012 
TERRITORY DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT SELECTION OF 
THE SERRA FINCH (EMBERNAGRA LONGICAUDA) IN 
SERRA DO CIP6, BRAZIL 
GUILHERME H. S. FREITAS' 2 AND MARCOS RODRIGUES' 
ABSTRACT.—The near-threalened Serra Finch (Embemagra longicauda) is restricted to the main mountain ranges in 
eastern Brazil inhabiting compos rupestres (rocky fields). We mapped 17 mated pairs in a 138-ha area within Serra do Cipo 
National Park; a density of 0.25 adults/ha. Estimated average territory size varied from 2.52 ± 0.77 ha (95% kernel) to 3.35 
• 0.90 ha f 100% minimum convex polygon). The distance between territory centers of neighboring pairs was 162.38 ± 
28.93 m, The overlap between neighboring territories was 15.3 ± 5.9% (95% kernel) and 2.0 — 2.3 r (polygon metho ). 
Pairs remained together throughout the year in the same territories and defended these against intruding neighbors. 
Analyses of habitat selection indicated preference for woodland and scrubland habitats associated with humid valleys, whi e 
grasslands were avoided The Serra Finch used the available habitats more than expected from random at ditferent spatial 
sales. Our data identified habitats that should be priority for conservation of the Serra Finch. Received 8 Septan er _ 
•T cepted 24 September 2011. 
The Serra Finch (Embemagra longicauda) is a 
poorly understood species, known for more than a 
century based on only two specimens from an 
unspecified locality in South America (O’Brien 
l%S. Mattos and Sick 1985). Recent studies have 
found it to be restricted to mountaintops in eastern 
Brazil, mainly in the states of Minas Gerais and 
Bahia, and particularly Hie Espinha^o Range, 
Sena da Mantiqueira and Serra do Caparad 
iVasconcelos 2008). This species may be easily 
observed on mountains above 900 m. frequenting 
habitats on quartzite, gneiss, and iron rich soils. 
Thus species typically places its nest on rocky 
outcrops (Hoffmann et al. 2009, Rodrigues et al. 
tends to forage in pairs for arthropods and 
B«hy fruits among herbs, grasses and bushes 
'Hoffmann et al. 2009). and pairs arc known to 
Ning a duet < Freitas and Rodrigues 2007), a typical 
behavior of territory defense (Catchpole and 
Slater 1995). 
The Serra Finch has been categorized as near- 
Oireatened due to a perceived population decline 
possibly resulting from significant habitat loss, 
primarily due to cattle ranching, land conversion, 
an d intensive mining activity (BirdLife Interna- 
honal 2011). Thus, there is a need of focused 
ecological studies of the species to identify its 
Habitat requirements (Stotz et al. 1996. BirdLite 
International 2011). Accurate assessment o! 
' Gboratorio de Ornilologia, Departamenlo de Zoologia. 
H'tiiuto dc Ciencias Biological, Univcrsidade Federal de 
Minas Gerais, CP 486. 31270-901. Bclo Horizonte. Minas 
Gerais. Brazil. 
Corresponding author; 
e ' ma ‘l: guilhermehsfreitas@gmail.com 
habitat requirements, population size, and den¬ 
sity are paramount to undertaking any successful 
conservation measures (Bibby et al. 2000). The 
objectives of our study were to: (1) quantify and 
map all territories of Serra Finches in a study site 
within Serra do Cipo National Park in south¬ 
eastern Brazil, and (2) identify specific habitats 
favored by this species. 
METHODS 
Study Aren .—Our study was conducted in a 
138-ha area near Indaifi Stream, in the ’Alto do 
Palacio’ region (19 15' S, 43 31' W) in the 
northern part of Serra do C’ipo National Park in 
the southern portion of the greater Espinha^o 
Range of southeastern Brazil (Fig. I). Alto do 
Palacio is near the ridge of the eastern slope of the 
Serra do Cipo Mountains at an altitude of 1.280 to 
1,380 m. This region is humid throughout the 
year, even in the dry season, and is characterized 
by frequently misty weather conditions (Ribeiro 
et al. 2009); the bird community is closely 
associated with the Atlantic Forest (Rodrigues 
et al. 2011). 
The study area is a mosaic of habitats traversed 
by numerous small valleys. Seven habitats were 
identified. (I) Rocky outcrops, referring to areas 
wilh soils derived from quartzite, that are domi¬ 
nated by several species of herbs, shrubs (such as 
Bromeliaceae. Orchidaceae. Velloziaceae. and 
Cactaceae), and small trees up to 3 in in height, 
including Eremanthus erythropappus and E. cro- 
tomides ( Asteraceae). (2) Dry grasslands, domi¬ 
nated by Lagenocarpus tenuifolius (Cype raceae), 
Panicum lore um (Poaceae). and PaepaIon thus spp. 
57 
