Breeding

Breeding by Collared Aracari is reported from January-May throughout most of its range, but may be year round in Colombia (Dickey and van Rossem 1938, Smithe and Paynter 1953, Skutch 1958, Rowley 1984, Hilty and Brown 1986, Stiles and Skutch 1989, Short and Horne 2001). Berg (2001) reported that in western Ecuador breeding is initiated slightly earlier, in December.

The nest is in a cavity, typically a cavity excavated by a large woodpecker (Campephilus or Dryocopus), but they also may use a natural cavity (Skutch 1958, Short and Horne 2001); occupied cavities range from 6-30 m above the ground (Skutch 1958, Rowley 1984, Short and Horne 2001). Mean dimensions of the cavity entrance are 9.75 x 6.75 cm (height x width, n = 4), with a mean cavity depth of 138 cm (n = 5, range 38-246 cm; Rowley 1984, Berg 2001). The clutch is two to five eggs (usually three), and are white and unmarked. In one nest, the floor of the nest chamber contained a layer of dried seeds of different fruits (Rowley 1984). Egg dimensions are 33.1-35.2 x 23.9-24.7 mm (n = 3 eggs, all from the same clutch; Rowley 1984). Both sexes incubate; the period of incubation is 16-17 days (Berg 2001, Short and Horne 2001). At one nest, up to five adults provisioned the nestlings, although only a single bird incubated the eggs (Skutch 1958); Berg (2001) observed a nest attended by a pair and one helper. Fledging is at 43-46 days (Skutch 1958, Berg 2001). Nestlings initially are provisioned primarily with insects, but fruits are added to the diet as the nestlings grow larger (Skutch 1958). Nest cavities may be re-used for at least two consecutive years (Berg 2001).