First assessment of the avifauna of ArAucAriA forests and other habitats from extreme southern Minas Gerais , Serra da Mantiqueira , Brazil , with notes on biogeography and conservation

The avifauna of the Araucaria forests in the higher reaches of the Serra da Mantiqueira massif is little known and poorly documented. This region is recognized as an important area of differentiation of birds in southeastern Brazil. Here, we present the first ornithological survey of the Araucaria forests and associated habitats in the mountains of extreme southern Minas Gerais state, near the southern tip of the Serra da Mantiqueira. The study area comprises the Serra do Juncal region and several adjacent sites, located in the municipalities of Gonçalves and Camanducaia. We recorded 206 bird species, of which 57 (27.7%) are endemic to the Atlantic forest. Several records represent the first specimens for Minas Gerais, in the hinterlands of Serra da Mantiqueira, proving that many Atlantic species also occur in the intern most slope of this mountain range. Examples are: Dysithamnus xanthopterus, Chamaeza ruficauda, Leptasthenura setaria, Heliobletus contaminatus, Hemitriccus obsoletus, Phylloscartes difficilis, Piprites pileata, Poospiza thoracica, and Cacicus chrysopterus. The region is also a previously unknown area of sympatry of other closely related species: Scytalopus notorius and S. speluncae, Lepidocolaptes squamatus and L. falcinellus, and Basileuterus culicivorus and B. hypoleucus. Both species of Lepidocolaptes and Basileuterus hybridize in the region. We also comment on the avifauna conservation, which have been threatened by eco-tourism, building of new styles of houses, domestic animals, forest fragmentation, and plantations.


INtroDuctIoN
Only 7.26% of the original cover of the Atlantic forest still persists in form of fragments (Ranta et al., 1998;Mittermeier et al., 1999;Fundação SOS Mata Atlântica & Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, 2008).In this region, c. 660 bird species have been recorded, of which approximately 200 are endemic and 68% rare (Scott & Brooke, 1985;Goerck, 1997;Brooks et al., 1999).Within the Atlantic forest region, the Araucaria forests occur mainly in southern Brazil, with isolated patches in northeastern Argentina and in higher altitudes on the mountains of southeastern Brazil, such as the Serras da Mantiqueira, de Paranapiacaba, and da Bocaina (Ruschi, 1950;Hueck, 1953Hueck, , 1972;;Cozzo, 1960;Segadas-Viana, 1965;Bigarella et al., 1975;Moura, 1975;Rizzini et al., 1991;Morrone, 2001;Giraudo et al., 2005).The Serra da Mantiqueira, located along the borders of the states of Minas Gerais, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro, is a mountain range extending in a southwest-northeast direction, parallel to the Paraíba do Sul river valley.This is one of the highest regions in Brazil, where several peaks reach over 2,500 m (Martinelli & Orleans e Bragança, 1996).
Further, the region comprising the Serra da Mantiqueira, Paraíba do Sul river valley, and Serra da Bocaina has experienced marked geological and vegetational changes since the Pliocene due to tectonic activity and climatic flutuactions (Petri & Fúlfaro, 1986;Ab'Sáber, 1990;Behling, 1997Behling, , 1998Behling, , 2002;;Safford, 1999Safford, , 2007;;Garcia et al., 2004).For this reason, this region was recognized as an important area of differentiation of birds in southeastern Brazil (Pinto, 1978;Sick, 1985;Silva & Stotz, 1992;Willis, 1992a;Silva & Straube, 1996;Silva et al., 2004) and was included in an endemic bird area (EBA 076 -Atlantic forest mountains) by Stattersfield et al. (1998).Nevertheless, knowledge on geographic variation and taxonomy of many species from the higher areas of Serra da Mantiqueira is still very poor due to the lack of ornithological surveys and collections.Thus, the aim of this paper is to present the first ornithological survey of the Araucaria forests and associated habitats from the mountains of extreme southern Minas Gerais state, part of the southern tip of Serra da Mantiqueira.We also comment on distribution, geographic variation, hybridization, and conservation of some species.
2. Pedra de São Domingos and adjacent forests: Pedra de São Domingos is the highest peak in the region (22°41'28"S, 45°57'35"W), reaching 2,050 m.The main vegetation on the mountaintop is "campo de altitude" with rock outcrops associated to cloud and elfin forests in different regeneration stages on the mountain slopes.Forest and grassland habitat types were surveyed between 22°41'10" and 22°42'27"S, 45°56'43" and 45°58'28"W, between 1,600 and 2,050 m.Forest habitats are in direct contact with pastures and plantations in several places.These forests sum c. 350 ha.This area was sampled on 2 June 2006 and along 2007 on 17 January, 4 and 27 March, 8 and 10 May, 13 July and 29 September, totaling 35 h of sampling.
4. Bicho do Mato: a small forest fragment of c. 20 ha (centered at 22°41'38"S, 45°53'32"W) between 1,550 and 1,610 m and connected to the larger forest of Serra do Juncal by two narrow forested corridors of c. 15-70 m width.This area also includes areas subject to the use of people, such as a hotel, pastures and orchards.Surveys were conducted on 1 June 2006 and along 2007: 17 January, 3 March, 8 and 9 May, 1 June, 28 and 29 September, totaling 50 h of sampling effort.
6. Sebastião Lauriano I: a small forest fragment of c. 9 ha (centered at 22°41'13"S, 45°54'15"W) between 1,600 and 1,660 m.This fragment is completely isolated from other forests by pastures and potato plantations.This area was surveyed on 16 January, and between 27 February and 2 March 2007, totaling 42 h of sampling effort.
7. Sebastião Lauriano II: a very small forest fragment of 0.9 ha (centered at 22°40'59"S, 45°53'58"W) between 1,640 and 1,665 m.This fragment is isolated from others and is subject to cattle entrance, where the understorey was completely removed.This area was surveyed on 16 January, 28 February and 1 March 2007, totaling 5 h of observations.8. Sertão do Cantagalo and surroundings: a small village in the municipality of Gonçalves at 1,550 m (22°41'37"S, 45°54'07"W).It is surrounded by second-growth, potato plantations, pastures and marshy areas.This area was sampled in 2006: 1 June; 2007: 18 January, 5, 9, and 11 May, 1 June, 9, and 13 July; and 2008: 9 January, totaling 20 h of observations.9. Gonçalves city and surroundings: centered at 22°39'32"S, 45°51'21"W, this city is located at c. 1,250 m among a matrix of pastures, small forest fragments, and plantations of potato and Araucaria.Opportunistic observations were carried out in this area in the years of 2006: 31 May and 2 June;2007: between 15 and 19 January, between 26 February and 8 March, between 26 and 28 March, between 5 and 11 May, between 30 May and 3 June, between 8 and 14 July, between 25 and 30 September;and 2008: between 9 and 12 January, totaling 53 h of observations.The avifaunal survey was conducted especially in Araucaria forests and in other habitat types of the study area.Bird species were identified by observations with binoculars and/or by recognizing their vocalizations.Whenever possible, bird vocalizations were tape-recorded with Sony TCM-5000EV and Panasonic RQ-L31 tape-recorders and Sennheiser ME66 microphones.Copies of these vocalizations were deposited in the Arquivo Sonoro Prof. Elias Coelho (ASEC), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Some voucher-specimens were also collected with mist-nets and carabines, and they have been deposited in the Coleção Ornitológica do Departamento de Zoologia da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (DZUFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Species composition
We recorded a total of 206 bird species in the region (Appendix 1).Among them, 57 species (27.7%) are endemic to the Atlantic forest, one is endemic to the Cerrado region (a possible invader, see Lopes, 2008), one is threatened in Brazil and globally vulnerable, 12 are threatened in Minas Gerais state, eight are globally near-threatened, and three are near-threatened in Brazil (Appendix 1).A total of 138 species (67%) is forest dependent or semi-dependent, the remaining being represented by species typical of open habitats of the region ("campos de altitude" and marshes) or by species that have expanded their range due to deforestation (invaders) (Appendix 1).

Species accounts
Below, we present comments on distribution, geographic variation, hybridization, and conservation of some noteworthy, regionally rare, threatened, and endemic species.Several records represent the first specimens for Minas Gerais state, in the hinterlands of Serra da Mantiqueira, proving that many Atlantic species also occur on the northwestern slope of this mountain range.
Dysithamnus xanthopterus -This species was only recently recorded in Minas Gerais, at Itatiaia National Park, municipality of Itamonte, and also in the borders of São Paulo state, but without any data on the precise locality (Parrini & Pacheco, 1997;Bencke et al., 2006).Several individuals were tape-recorded in three localities in our study area (Appendix 1).On 28 September 2007, a female (DZUFMG 5650) was collected at Serra do Juncal (22°43'07"S, 45°53'40"W, c. 1,940 m).This specimen had skull fully pneumatized and ovary measurements (in mm): 7 x 4.1, with largest ova reaching 1.6 mm.This is the first specimen of D. xanthopterus for Minas Gerais.In the study area, the species was observed foraging principally in the middle and upper strata of the forests.
Scytalopus speluncae -Raposo et al. (2006) presented records for this species from south-central Minas Gerais (São João Del Rey) to central Bahia (Chapada Diamantina region).Nevertheless, the taxon from Chapada Diamantina proved to be a different species, recently described by Bornschein et al. (2007).On 27 March 2007, a subadult female (DZUFMG 5322) was collected in the elfin forest of Pedra de São Domingos (22°41'30"S, 45°57'32"W, c. 1,990 m), only c. 100 m from where a specimen of S. notorius was collected on the same day (Fig. 2).This specimen had skull 8% pneumatized and ovary measurements (in mm): 5.4 x 2, with largest ova reaching 0.8 mm.On 27 September 2007, one individual of S. speluncae was tape-recorded at the same site as another individual of S. notorius in a forest edge in the base of Serra do Juncal (22°44'52"S, 45°56'00"W, c. 1,460 m).On 11 January 2008, an adult male was tape-recorded and collected (DZUFMG 5719) in the border of a marsh/second growth of Araucaria forest at the base of Serra do Juncal (22°44'58"S, 45°56'00"W, c. 1,450 m), only 80 m from where a specimen of S. notorius was collected on the same day (Fig. 2).It presented skull 10% pneumatized and testes measurements (in mm): 3.3 x 2.1.This is the second record of sympatry of these two species, besides the Ibitipoca State Park region (Pacheco et al., 2008), where both species occur in high altitude areas (above 1,100 m) in forest edges and small clumps of shrubs in the "campos de altitude".
Chamaeza ruficauda -Despite being mentioned in the checklist of birds of Minas Gerais (Mattos et al., 1993), we did not find any previous documented record or any specific published locality for C. ruficauda in this state (e.g., Raposo & Teixeira, 1992;Willis, 1992b).Recent state records are: a male specimen (DZUFMG 3463) collected by M.F.V. and H.M.F.Alvarenga in the base of Marins Peak, Delfim Moreira municipality, on 6 July 2002, and sightings in the Serra do Papagaio (Vasconcelos, 2008).There are also records from the borders of the states of Minas Gerais and São Paulo, but without any precise locality, being impossible to know in which state the records were conducted (see Bencke et al., 2006).In the study area, C. ruficauda is a very common species in forest edges, especially in stands of "carafá" bamboo, but also inside Araucaria forests with stands of "taquara-poca" bamboo (Merostachys sp.).This species also appears to prefer habitats with bamboos in Misiones, Argentina (Bodrati & Cockle, 2006a).It was observed and tape-recorded in four localities (Appendix 1).In the study area, its voice was also heard throughout the year, as mentioned by Bodrati & Cockle (2006a) in Argentina.On 10 May 2007, an unsexed specimen (DZUFMG 5319) presenting skull 50% pneumatized was collected at Pedra de São Domingos (22°41'34"S, 45°57'33"W, c. 1,950 m) in a dense stand of "carafá".These are the first documented records for C. ruficauda from Minas Gerais.
Lepidocolaptes squamatus and L. falcinellus -Silva & Straube (1996) found that the region around 22°S in southeastern Brazil is represented by changing of characters of two populations of Lepidocolaptes.L. squamatus occurs from the north of this region to the right bank of São Francisco river, and L. falcinellus is the southern form.Theoretically, there is no contact between these two species (Silva & Straube, 1996;Marantz et al., 2003).Nevertheless, there are no known specimens from the Minas Gerais north slope of Serra da Mantiqueira.Thus, it was impossible to know if the form that occurs in this region was in an intergradation zone between both forms or if it represents the supposed taxa to occur in the hin-terlands (L.squamatus).On 9 January 2008, two unsexed specimens (DZUFMG 5760, 5761) were collected at Serra do Juncal (22°43'07"S, 45°53'40"W, c. 1,940 m).They were compared to the entire series (17 specimens) of the L. squamatus/falcinellus/wagleri complex held in DZUFMG and with descriptions for the three forms (Silva & Straube, 1996;Marantz et al., 2003).One of them (DZUFMG 5760) presents the typical head of L. falcinellus, with broad buffy streaks on crown (Fig. 3).The other specimen (DZUFMG 5761) has the head with pattern intermediate between L. squamatus and L. falcinellus, with narrower buffy streaks in the centre of crown feathers but with blackish borders (Fig. 3).Tails of both specimens are chestnut brown, typical of L. falcinellus.Furthermore, the underparts of DZUFMG 5760 are whiter, similar to L. squamatus, whilst the underparts of DZUFMG 5761 present buffy streaks, resembling the pattern of L. falcinellus.This is the first record of intergradation between these two species (see Silva & Straube, 1996;Marantz et al., 2003).Furthermore, L. falcinellus was known only from southern bank of Paraíba do Sul river (see Marantz et al., 2003) and these records show that at least phenotypes of this species occurs north of this river.The occurrence of phenotypes of L. falcinellus in the Araucaria forests of the north slopes of Serra da Mantiqueira can be related to palaeoecological connections to the nucleus of Araucaria forests from southern Brazil (where L. falcinellus is the only species of this complex -see Marantz et al., 2003).In the Serra da Mantiqueira and adjacent regions, expansion of Araucaria forests is hypothesized to have occurred between 9,700-8,200 years before present and, later, after c. 3,500-3,000 years before present, when climate became cooler and moister than today (Behling, 1997(Behling, , 1998(Behling, , 2002;;Garcia et al., 2004).Curiously, L. squamatus is the taxa recorded at Itatiaia, in the Atlantic (south) slope of this mountain range (Pinto, 1951(Pinto, , 1954)).This could be explained by the occurrence of Araucaria forests in the north slopes of Serra da Mantiqueira, whilst the Atlantic slope is mostly covered by montane and cloud forests (see Hueck, 1972) and should has different zoogeographical affinities.
Leptasthenura setaria -This species is strongly associated to A. angustifolia, where it forages and nests almost exclusively (Andrade, 1996;Sick, 1997;Antunes et al., 2007).In Minas Gerais, it is known only from the following municipalities: Camanducaia, Barbacena, Aiuruoca, Delfim Moreira, and Marmelópolis (Mattos et al., 1991;Andrade, 1996;Andrade et al., 1997;Sick, 1997;Olmos, 2007).There are also records from the limits between this state and São Paulo, but without any precise locality, being impossible to know in which state the species was recorded  (Bencke et al., 2006).Although it is a common species in Araucaria forests and plantations of this pine tree, specimens of L. setaria are very scarce (Straube & Scherer-Neto, 2001;Antunes et al., 2007).In the study area, it is one of the commonest species, occurring from native Araucaria forests to plantations of A. angustifolia or even in pastures dotted with this pine species.In Argentina its range expanded to the east and south of its original distribution, following plantations of A. angustifolia (Krauczuk, 2001;Cabanne et al., 2007) where it is one of the commonest bird species (A.Bodrati, pers. com.).On 1 March 2007, a male specimen (DZUFMG 5300) was collected in a pasture with A. angustifolia and P. lambertii close to the forest fragments of Mr. Sebastião Lauriano (22°41'05"S, 45°53'57"W, c. 1,610 m).It had skull 15% pneumatized and testes measurements (in mm): 1.1 x 0.8.This appears to be the first specimen of L. setaria from Minas Gerais.
Heliobletus contaminatus -Despite being mentioned in the bird checklist of Minas Gerais (Mattos et al., 1993), geographic known state records are only in the borders with São Paulo, without any specific locality (Bencke et al., 2006), and also in the region of Serra do Papagaio, Aiuruoca, northern Serra da Mantiqueira (Vasconcelos, 1999(Vasconcelos, , 2008)).There were no specimens of H. contaminatus collected in the Minas Gerais slope of Serra da Mantiqueira.Specimens from this mountain range were assigned to represent nominate form (Itatiaia, Rio de Janeiro state) or intermediate between nominate and H. c. camargoi (Campos do Jordão, São Paulo state) (Silva & Stotz, 1992).On 9 January 2008, a male (DZUFMG 5754) was collected at Serra do Juncal (22°43'07"S, 45°53'40"W, c. 1,940 m).It presented skull 30% pneumatized and testes measurements (in mm): 1.6 x 1.This specimen matches the description of nominate form (Silva & Stotz, 1992;Remsen, 2003), since it has a completely plain back, without any buffy streak, and underparts not extensively streaked.Nevertheless, since we collected only a single specimen, it is even possible that our study area is in the intergradation zone.Campos do Jordão (where an intermediate male specimen was collected -see Silva & Stotz, 1992) is only c. 30 km to the east from our study area.H. contaminatus was observed and tape-recorded in six localities in the study area.It is frequently associated to mixed-species flocks, foraging mainly in the forest middle or upper strata.
Phylloscartes difficilis -Despite being present in the bird checklist of Minas Gerais without specimen record (Mattos et al., 1993), Pacheco & Bauer (1998) mentioned three specimens of P. difficilis collected by E. Snethlage and H. Sick in the Serra do Caparaó, but it is impossible to know in which state the birds were taken (Minas Gerais or Espírito Santo).Records in the borders of São Paulo and Minas Gerais without any precise locality (Bencke et al., 2006) represent the same problem.Further, there is an unpublished female specimen (DZUFMG 3477) collected by M.F.V. and H.M.F.Alvarenga in the base of Marins Peak, Delfim Moreira municipality, on 6 July 2002, and tape-recordings from Serra do Papagaio region, northern Mantiqueira (Vasconcelos, 2008).In the study area, P. difficilis proved to be very common in forest edges, foraging principally in the understorey, especially in and close to stands of bamboo from the genus Chusquea.Three specimens were obtained: a female (DZUFMG 5315) collected on 7 May 2007 at Serra do Juncal (22°43'07"S, 45°53'40"W, c. 1,940 m) and a couple (DZUFMG 5631, 5632) taken on 12 July 2007 at Taperinha (22°46'44"S, 45°57'29"W, c. 1,575 m).Gonad measurements of these specimens were (in mm): testes 1.7 x 1.3 (DZUFMG 5631); ovary 2.4 x 1.5, with largest ova reaching 0.4 mm (DZUFMG 5315); and ovary 4.3 x 2.4, with largest ova reaching 1 mm (DZUFMG 5632).Skull ossification of these specimens ranged between 10 and 20%.
Piprites pileata -This species is known in Minas Gerais from scarce records along the Serra da Mantiqueira, in the following localities: Alagoa, Bocaina de Minas, Mirantão, Passa Vinte, Itamonte, Serra do Papagaio, and trail to Itaguaré and Marins Peaks (Collar et al., 1992;Machado et al., 1998;Vasconcelos, 1999Vasconcelos, , 2008;;Olmos, 2007).In the study area, it was recorded in three localities (Appendix 1).It was commonly observed alone or in pairs while foraging associated to mixed-species flocks, especially with Lepidocolaptes squamatus x L. falcinellus, Philydor rufum and Heliobletus contaminatus.Two of these species (P.rufum and H. contaminatus) were also observed foraging together with P. pileata in Misiones, Argentina (Maders et al., 2007).In the study area, it forages frequently in Araucaria forest and high altitude montane forests, including edges.Once, one individual was observed eating an unidentified insect.Several birds were tape-recorded, responding promptly to playback.On 6 March 2007, a female hit a window of a house close to Serra do Juncal.It broke its bill and died two hours later.This female was prepared as a study skin (DZUFMG 5306).It presented skull 20% pneumatized and ovary measurements (in mm): 3.4 x 2.7, with largest ova reaching 1 mm.
Basileuterus culicivorus and B. hypoleucus -Although the majority of records of this complex in the Serra da Mantiqueira is represented by B. culicivorus (e.g., Silva, 1991;Barbosa, 1992), there are some contact zones in the following localities of southeastern Minas Gerais: Poços de Caldas plateau, Viçosa, and Ibitipoca State Park (Monteiro et al., 1983;Lara et al., 1990;Pacheco et al., 2008).In the study area, we collected specimens of B. culicivorus (DZUFMG 5312,5641,5656), B. hypoleucus (DZUFMG 5311,5655), and a hybrid between both species (DZUFMG 5642).The Serra da Mantiqueira appears to be a geographical barrier to B. hypoleucus, since this species has never been recorded in its Atlantic slope.B. culicivorus occurs predominantly in the Atlantic slope (Pinto, 1951(Pinto, , 1954;;Barbosa, 1992), but also in the northern slopes (Vasconcelos, 2008), where it meets B. hypoleucus (this study).On the other hand, B. hypoleucus is the commonest form occurring in the hinterlands of southern Minas Gerais (Pinto, 1952;Silva, 1991;Ribon, 2000;Vasconcelos et al., 2002;Lopes, 2006;Lombardi et al., 2007).Thus, the study area is a contact zone between both species, with the occurrence of hybridization.This contact zone was still unknown and had not been mapped in the Serra da Mantiqueira by Silva (1991), although this author presented records for both species in Atibaia, São Paulo state, in the southernmost part of this mountain range.
Cacicus chrysopterus -This species has been recorded in Minas Gerais, although lacking specimen record (Mattos et al., 1993) and with a single published specific locality of record at Serra do Papagaio (Vasconcelos, 2008).The species is extremely common in the study area, being found even in the smallest and most degraded forest fragments (Appendix 1).On 28 September 2007, a female (DZUFMG 5649) was collected inside a forest at Serra do Juncal (22°43'01"S, 45°53'39"W, c. 1,900 m).It presented skull 100% pneumatized and ovary measurements (in mm): 11.7 x 4.6, with largest ova reaching 1.4 mm.This appears to be the first specimen of C. chrysopterus from Minas Gerais.conservation Although the region still harbors a rich avifauna, with several endemic and threatened species, some of them are very rare (e.g., Lipaugus lanioides) and can disappear in the near future if the native forests continue to be destroyed.We failed to find Amazona vinacea, a vulnerable species found in other nearby areas in the Serra da Mantiqueira, such as Baependi, Campos do Jordão, and the region of Monte Verde/ São Francisco Xavier (Willis & Oniki, 1981;Barbosa, 1992;Wege & Long, 1995;Melo-Júnior, 1996;Andrade et al., 1997;Bencke et al., 2006).
Besides the effects of forest loss and fragmentation, it is important to stress that a new system of land use has started in the study area: eco-tourism.This activity led to the building of luxury hotels, restaurants and weekend cottages.Although the majority of these new land-owners are interested in the conservation of the local biodiversity, many of them build their modern houses with large windows.This kind of house is a lethal trap for several forest birds, especially if they are built close to native forests.Besides the threatened Piprites pileata, we found several other dead or hurt birds after striking against these large windows.Furthermore, the growth of tourist activities can also lead to higher levels of forest fragmentation since an old land-owner can sell a large original forest property to several new ones, and this has happened in the region in the last years.Another threat to the native avifauna are domestic animals of these new land-owners (especially dogs), which prey on several birds.For example, we never found Macropsalis forcipata close to properties where there are dogs and cats, probably because they hunt this nightjar that forages and nests on the ground (Moraes & Krul, 1995;Pichorim, 2002).Dogs were also mentioned as predators of another species of nightjar in an Atlantic forest fragment in São Paulo state (Galetti & Sazima, 2006).Similar threats to the avifauna of other montane areas in Serra da Mantiqueira and Serra dos Órgãos have been reported, especially due to the recent forest loss and fragmentation by human settlements or luxury buildings (Bencke et al., 2006;Mallet-Rodrigues et al., 2007).Eco-tourism also represents a serious threat to the conservation of the avifauna in other high mountains in southeastern Brazil, especially in the Serras do Caraça and do Caparaó (Vasconcelos, 2000(Vasconcelos, , 2003)).In Itatiaia and Caparaó National Parks, the uncontrolled tourism have been reported as a serious problem causing accidental wildfires and degradation of the native vegetation used by several endemic bird species (Vasconcelos, 2003;Bencke et al., 2006).In this context, Marini & Garcia (2005) stress the importance of the southeastern Brazilian mountains for the conservation of the threatened and restricted range taxa.
Another problem in the region is the large areas subject to plantations of potato, carrot or monocultures of Araucaria, Pinus, and Eucalyptus.Nevertheless, we could find some endemic species in the understorey and canopy of plantations of Araucaria (e.g., Scytalopus notorius, Chamaeza ruficauda and Leptasthenura setaria).Perhaps the Araucaria growth in an area where it is a native tree is less damaging to the avifauna in comparison to other exotic species, especially if there is an understorey.
Finally, the study area was considered a priority area for biodiversity conservation in the highest category of biological importance in Minas Gerais state due to its high richness of rare, endemic, and threatened species of plants and animals (Drummond et al., 2005).This region is inside an "Área de Proteção Ambiental" (APA Fernão Dias), a kind of conservation unit that cannot guarantee the integral protection of biodiversity (Camargos, 2001).For this reason, we recommend the creation of two reserves in the study area in order to protect populations of several restricted-range or threatened birds.One of these reserves should be created in the Serra do Juncal, the largest forest fragment of the region, with many threatened and endemic bird species.The other reserve should be created in the Pedra de São Domingos and adjacent forests.This region harbors one of the most representative areas of elfin forest and "campos de altitude" in the region, where typical species of both kinds of habitats are still common.Fortunately, there are plans to establish a reserve in part of this area (Instituto Oikos, 2008), but this should also include the southern slope of Serra do Juncal, where well preserved forests still persist.

AckNowleDGeMeNtS
We are deeply grateful to Conservação Internacional (Project "Fragmentos Florestais APA Fernão Dias") and to the Brehm Foundation ("Brehm Fonds Mata Atlântica Brasilienprojekt") for financial support to our fieldwork.K. Cockle, A. Bodrati, F.C. Straube, M. Votaw, J.F. Pacheco, L.E.Lopes, and two anonymous reviewers revised the manuscript.We thank especially P.N.Vasconcelos for helping us in specimen preparation and W.A.C. Carvalho for accompanying us in the field.L.E.Lopes kindly prepared Fig. 1 and  D. Hoffmann photographed the specimens illustrated on Figs. 2 and 3. We are also indebted to all landowners who permitted our studies in their properties.M.F.V. thanks Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis (IBAMA) for the permission to collect bird specimens in Brazil (number 015/2007 -CGFAU; process 02015008329/2005) and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) for a doctoral fellowship.S.D.N. is grateful to Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) for a research grant.