A Contact Zone Between Mountain and Carunculated Caracaras in Ecuador

Resumen

A contact zone between Mountain and Carunculated Caracaras inEcuador.-Parker et al. (1985) were first to report Mountain Caracaras (Phalcoboenus megalopterus) north of the Maranon depression at Cerro Chinguela in Peru.Fjeldsa and Krabbe (1990) found them on the border of Ecuador and Peru.Ortiz et al. (1990) did not consider the species present in Ecuador, but R. Williams (pers.comm.)found Mountain Caracaras to be fairly common on the Cordillera de Cyabanilla (4"34' S, 79"22' W) lo-15 km east of Amaluza in 1990.However, he saw none in this area in 199 1. Williams also recorded the species at 04"2 1 ' S, 79"45' W near Sozoranga in 1990.E. P. Toyne (pers.comm.)recorded two adult Mountain Caracaras flying together at Ingapirca (3"41' S, 79"13' W) on 11 April 1992 immediately east of Acacana.I recorded Mountain Caracaras several times during ornithological fieldwork at 2950 m on the east side of Cerro Acacana (Acanama) (3"41' S, 79"14' W, Fig. l), Province of Loja, southern Ecuador, in May and June 1992 and report on those observations here.The area is characterized by "islands" of temperate cloud forest in an "ocean" of pastures.Just below and on the top of Acacana (3420 m), plramo vegetation was prevalent.I recorded Mountain Caracaras on 15 occasions, but never more than two together at one time.Fifteen records were of adults and four of juveniles.The greatest number of sightings in any one