The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 124( 1 ):87—95, 2012 
BREEDING AND FORAGING VARIATION OF THE PLUSH-CRESTED 
JAY (CYANOCORAX CHRYSOPS) IN THE BRAZILIAN 
ATLANTIC FOREST 
ANGELICA MARIA KAZUE UEJ1MA, 1 ' ANDREA LARISSA BOESING. 24 
AND LUIZ DOS ANJOS 2 
ABSTRACT.—We monitored six flocks and five active nests of the Plush-crested Jay (Cycmocorcix chnsops) at three 
in the Atlantic Forest in southern Brazil. The sites had different vegetation compositions and spanned different levels 
i thropogemcdisturbance. Home ranee size in full/wimci was 20-30 ha and the breeding territory size in spring/summer 
5-10luin size. Territories were smaller across sites with higher anthropogenic food supplementation. Hock sizes were 
5-11 individuals during spring/summer and 8-15 individuals during lall/winter. The Plush-crested Jay is a cooperative 
breeder,nesh were 4-7 m above ground level, the incubation period WB# 18*20 days, brood si/e (\ ± SD* was 3.4 ± 0.80 
vesper nest, and nestlings fledged 23 T 1 2b days after hatching. This species occupies all forest strata but tends to use the 
underaory-and middle levels most (G = 178.2; P < 0.01). Invertebrates were the most frequently consumed item in all 
- r Sfi. but percent consumption varied among sites (G = 105.06; P < 0.01). We observed 110 >ood caching events 
throughout the year, primarily seeds at Araucaria august (folia, maize, and coconuts. Caches were on the ground in - 40). 
mepiphytes (n = 47). and on branches in - 23). Levels of anthropogenic food supplementation resulted in variation in 
territory and home-range size, nestling survival rates, strata occupation, and diet composition of the Plusli-crcsted Jay. 
Romed 6 tehruary 2011, Accepted 29 August 2Oil. 
Ihe family Corvidae is represented in South 
America by the genera Cyitnoconix and Cyanolyca 
i Madge and Bum 1994). These genera occur across 
dte neotropical region and include 17 species of 
^‘inocorax and nine species of Cyanolyca (Gill 
“d Donsker 2011). The Plush-crested Jay ( Cya - 
'"wruv chrysops) is widely distributed throughout 
l ' 0Ul ^ America from Amazonia to northeastern 
Argentina occupying a variety of habitats that 
l ll ude >everal types of forests: mixed rainforest, 
-mi-deciduous foresi, Cerrado (one of the largest 
:a l savannas of the world) (Silva and Bates 
- "'-I. scrub, and also semi-urban areas. It is not 
" u 'ly found in the interior of primary forest, but 
to be more frequent at the borders and in 
-^life's (Goodwin 1976. Anjos 2009). It is poorly 
l ^ e <l, although relatively common and conspic- 
lA in its range. Only one species-specific study 
" "’ L ' en published on habitat occupancy and vocal 
-Nnoire (Brunetta and Anjos 2010). 
, bograma de Pos-Graduayao cm Zoologia. Universidade 
. do Parana (IFPR). Postal Code 81531-990. 
U, '"V Parand. Brazil. 
Apartamento de Biologia Animal c Vegetal-l niversi- 
* Tstadual dc Londrina. Rodovia Cclso Garcia t id. 
„' anipus bniversitario. Postal Code 86050-980. Londrina. 
Brazil. 
Curi eni adress: Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. 
Acadcmico de Vildria. Rua Alto do Reservatdno. 
,yjl Code 5564X4-000 Vitoria de Santo Antao, Pemam- 
Brazil. 
Corresponding author; e-mail: lari.bocsing@gmail.com 
The objectives of our study were to describe the 
breeding and foraging behaviors ot the Plush- 
crested Jay at three sites in the Atlantic Forest in 
southern Brazil. The sites studied each have 
different vegetation structure and anthropogenic 
food supplementation. 
METHODS 
Study Areas .—Field observations were conduct¬ 
ed at three sites in Parana State in southern Brazil 
(Fin. 1). Locations and natural features of the 
three areas varied (Table 1). The first site, Vila 
Velha State Park (VVP), was mostly natural open 
fields including grassland/wetland and undis¬ 
turbed mixed rainforest (MF) beside an adminis¬ 
trative area of the Park. The sample area included 
forest merged with a rocky outcrop and grassland. 
There was one small restaurant open lor visitors to 
the VVP within this sample area. The second area 
was Klabin Ecological Park (KEP), which was 
mostly covered by MF with the remaining aiea 
grassland, tree plantations for timber production, 
and administrative areas of the Park. The area 
sampled was represented by forest with a few 
patches of grassland beside the administrative 
area, which included an animal breeding center 
(7 ha). The third area was the Ribeirao do Tigre 
Farm (RTF) wdtere well-preserved seasonal semi- 
deciduous forest (SF) merged with disturbed areas 
used for agriculture and fries lock grazing. 
General Obsen>ations .— Field observations 
were made 6 days per month in each area from 
87 
