The Wilson Journal of Ornithology I24( 1): 106-112, 2012 
LEK BEHAVIOR OF THE PLOVERCREST 
(STEPHANOXIS LALANDI , TROCHILJDAE) 
MARCO AURELIO PIZO 1 
ABSTRACT.—! examined the lek structure and behavior of male Plovercrests (Stephanoxis lalandi) at a lek in southern 
Brazil. The lek included seven territorial males; the distance between neighboring lek territories was 14.8 ± 6.3 m. 
Territory size was 11.4 ± 4.4 nr. Territory size and distance between territories were among the lowest reported for 
Trochihnae hummingbirds. Lek attendance by territory owners fluctuated throughout the day. Activity slowly diminished 
after an initial period of activity after arrival at sunrise, but increased again between 0900 and 1500 hrs. All males left their 
territories by 1830 hrs. Males sang at a similar rate (74.8 T. 14.5 songs/min) throughout the lekking season, but not 
throughout the day. There was no relationship between lek attendance and singing rate, two parameters that potentially 
affect mating success in lekking birds. Considerable interspecific variation occurs among lekking trochilines, indicating that 
much remains to be investigated about lek behavior and structure in hummingbirds. Received 11 March 2011 Accepted W 
August 20J1. 
Lekking behavior has been described for at 
least 28 species of hummingbirds (Pizo and Silva 
2001), and studies to date have revealed consid¬ 
erable interspecific variation in the structure and 
dynamics of hummingbird leks (Hdglund and 
Alatalo 1995, Ramjohn et al. 2003). For instance, 
the number of males at leks may vary from two 
for Rufous Sabrcwings {Campylopterus rufus) 
(Skutch 1967) to >100 for Long-tailed Hermits 
(Phaethornis superciliosus) (Skutch 1964a), Lek¬ 
king males may be clustered, as with male Broad¬ 
tailed Hummingbirds ( Selasphorus platycercus) 
that remain ~7 m apart (Barash 1972), or form 
loose aggregations, as with male Swallow-tailed 
Hummingbirds (Eupetomena macroura) that arc 
24-120 m apart (Pizo and Silva 2001 ). Activities 
at leks may continue throughout the day 
(Phaethornis spp.; Ramjohn et al, 2003) or be 
limited to a short period such as dawn for 
Swallow-tailed Hummingbirds (Pizo and Silva 
2001 ). 
Variation may reflect both phylogenetic and 
ecological constraints. However, Bleiweiss 
(1998) noted the repeated evolution of lekking 
behavior among hummingbirds, suggesting that 
behavior at leks is not limited by historical or 
phylogenetic constraints. Thus, to understand the 
relative roles of historical and ecological drivers 
in evolution of hummingbird leks, it is essential 
to expand our data base to include not only 
species representing different clades of the 
hummingbird phytogeny, but also to achieve a 
' UNESP-Universidad Estadual Puulista, 
dc Zoologia, 13506-900 Kio Clam. SP. 
pizo@rc.unesp.br 
Departamcnto 
Brazil; e-mail; 
wider geographical sampling that encompasses 
contrasting ecological conditions. 
My objective was to examine the lek structure 
and lek behavior of Plovercrests ( Stephanoxis 
lalandi) in a subtropical area in southern Brazil. 
Stephanoxis is a monotypic genus of small 
hummingbirds (2.2-3.4 g. 8.5-9.0 cm), that occur 
in forests and semi-open areas from sea level to 
>2.000 m asl, ranging from eastern Paraguay to 
northeastern Argentina (Misiones). and southern 
ami southeastern Brazil (Schuchmann 1999), 
Males of the race .V. /. loddigesii that 1 studied 
have long iridescent blue crests with a conspic¬ 
uous black patch on the underparts, whereas 
females are iridescent green with gray below and 
with feathers of the head only slightly elongated. 
Hummingbirds in the genus Stephanoxis are 
known to display at leks (Sick 1997. Sigrist 
2006). but details of their lekking behavior are 
unreported. Phylogenetically, the genus Stephu- 
noxis is placed within the Emerald clade (sensu 
McGuire et al. 2007), which includes genera that 
exhibit lekking behavior (e.g„ Amazilia and 
Campylopterus ) as well as apparently non-lekking 
species (e.g.. Thaluraniu and Chlorostilhon)- I 
also describe the song and aerial display of 
Plovercrests. their seasonal and daily patterns of 
activity at the lek. and the relationship between 
lek attendance (i.e., time spent in lek territories) 
and singing rate. 
METHODS 
Study Area.—The lek studied was at the edge of 
an early secondary forest (sensu Clark 1996) 
extending along the margin of a 4.5-km road 
connecting Ivoti and Lindolfo Collor (29 35' S, 
106 
