Seasonal abundance of rufous-throated dipper (Cinclus schulzii) in the Southern Yungas of Argentina

Abstract

Rufous-throated dipper (Cinclus schulzii) is the least known dipper, categorized as ‘Vulnerable’ by IUCN. From the year 2010 to 2013, we surveyed two mountain rivers in the Southern Yungas of Argentina to determine the abundance of this dipper in the breeding and non-breeding season. The overall relative abundance on the breeding season was 1.26 ± 0.07 dippers/km and it did not differ significantly among years. On the non-breeding season, the overall relative abundance was 1.59 ± 0.31 dippers/km and it differed significantly among years. The stable abundance values of the rufous-throated dipper in the breeding season among years could be related to the number of territories that a river can accommodate. The change in the abundance values among years on the non-breeding seasons might be related to the addition of dispersing individuals or of individuals that descend from highlands due to unfavorable conditions at higher elevation. Given the species low abundance values, it is necessary to establish a long-term monitoring scheme.