On the expansion of the Laughing Falcon (Herpetotheres cachinnans) in Misiones and Corrientes, provinces of Argentina

Abstract

In this work we compile 37 localities with the presence of the Guaicurú (Herpetotheres cachinnans), in Misiones and northern Corrientes. Among these, 25 sites with unpublished records, which represent new localities. Our information supports the hypothesis that in the last 40 years the Guaicurú has gradually expanded from the north of Misiones to the south of the province and the north of Corrientes. We report the first records for the south of the province of Misiones, and we document the Guaicurú for the first time in the province of Corrientes. These records expand the distribution to biomes where the species had not been recorded. The habitats where our records occurred seem to suggest that the conversion of continuous forest to a mosaic of remnants, forest fragments and rural areas could have functioned as an optimal environment for its expansion.