An opportunist predator hidden in the vegetation: on the predation of birds by Philodryas olfersii (Serpentes: Dipsadidae)

Figures & data

Figure 1. Nestlings of Troglodytes musculus.

Figure 2. Sequence of images showing Philodryas olfersii being mobbed by Troglodytes musculus. The position of the bird is indicated by the letter B, while the position of the snake is indicated by the letter S. (a) Adult of T. musculus preparing to attack an individual P. olfersii. (b) Bird flying toward the snake. (c) Bird strikes the snake. (d) and (e) Snake retreats after the attack. (f) and (g) Second attack by bird. (h) and (i) Bird flies and lands on top of the wall and then utters an alarm call. (j) and (k) Third attack by bird

Figure 3. Philodryas olfersii taking shelter after predation attempts

Table 1. Bird species reported as prey of Philodryas olfersii.

Bird species	Prey age	Predation microhabitat	Locality (all in Brazil)	Source
Cardinalidae
Cyanoloxia brissonii (Ultramarine Grosbeak)	?	Cage	Montenegro, RS	[30]
Columbidae
Columbina picui (Picui Ground-Dove)	?	?	Carlos Chagas, MG	[31]
Columbina talpacoti (Ruddy Ground-Dove)	?	?	Pentecoste, CE	[6]
	?	?	São Jerônimo and Barão do Triunfo, RS	[32]
Dendrocolaptidae
Lepidocolaptes angustirostris (Narrow-billed Woodcreeper)	Adult	Vegetation	Três Rios, RJ	[33]
Fringillidae
Spinus magellanicus (Hooded Siskin)	?	Vegetation	Baependi, MG	[34]
Icteridae
Gnorimopsar chopi (Chopi Blackbird)	?	?	Distrito Federal, DF	[35]
Passerellidae
Zonotrichia capensis (Rufous-collared Sparrow)	Adult	Vegetation	Piraju, SP	[36]
	?	Vegetation	Pelotas, RS	[37]
	Nestling	Vegetation	Paraibuna, SP	[38]
Passeridae
Passer domesticus (House Sparrow)	Adult	Vegetation	Campinas, SP	[4]
	Adult	Vegetation	Nazaré da Mata, PE	[39]
Pipridae
Chiroxiphia caudata (Swallow-tailed Manakin)	Nestling	Vegetation	Nova Lima, MG	[40]
Psittacidae
Melopsittacus undulates (Budgerigar)	?	Cage	Lavras, MG	[41]
Rhynchocyclidae
Tolmomyias sulphurescens (Yellow-olive Flycatcher)	Nestling	Vegetation	Cuiabá, MT	[42]
Thraupidae
Coereba flaveola (Bananaquit)	Juvenile	Vegetation	Campinas, SP	[4]
	?	Vegetation	Campinas, SP	[24]
	Juvenile	Vegetation	Gurupi, TO	[43]
Sicalis flaveola (Saffron Finch)	Adult	Vegetation	Carlos Chagas, MG	[44]
Sporophila caerulescens (Double-collared Seedeater)	?	Cage	Bossoroca, RS	[30]
Tangara sayaca (Sayaca Tanager)	Adult	Vegetation	Campinas, SP	[4]
	Adult	Vegetation	Sabinópolis, MG	[45]
Thamnophilidae
Thamnophilus palliatus (Chestnut-backed Antshrike)	?	?	Carlos Chagas, MG	[31]
Troglodytidae
Troglodytes musculus (Southern House Wren)	Nestling	Artificial nest	Assaí, PR	This study
Turdidae
Turdus leucomelas (Pale-breasted Thrush)	Nestling	Vegetation	Carlos Chagas, MG	[46]
Turdus rufiventris (Rufous-bellied Thrush)	Nestling	Ground	Santa Margarida do Sul, RS	[47]

Brazilian states: CE, Ceará; DF, Distrito Federal; MG, Minas Gerais; MT, Mato Grosso; PE, Pernambuco; PR, Paraná; RJ, Rio de Janeiro; RS, Rio Grande do Sul; SP, São Paulo; TO, Tocantins

? – data not available.

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