Breeding

Breeding of Fire-eyed Diucon is initiated in October in central Chile, but may be delayed until December or even January farther south (Johnson 1967). The nest is a cup "of dry sticks firmly interlaced with grass stems and well lined with liches, moss or wool" (Johnson 1967). These nests are placed in trees or shrubs, 0.4-5 m above the ground (Pässler 1922, Johnson 1967, Vuilleumier 1994); nest sites often are around the edges of clearings, but in northern Chile, favored sites are in vegetation along streams (Johnson 1967). The dimensions of one nest were: external diameter 19 cm, internal diameter 7.5 cm, depth 5.5 cm (Narosky and Salvador 1998). The clutch is 2-4 (most frequently 3). The eggs are creamy white, marked with red spots. Egg dimensions are reported as 24.7 ± 0.19 x 18.3 ± 0.07 mm (Johnson 1967; n = ?) and as 24.6 x 18.5 mm (Narosky and Salvador 1998; n = 69). The length of incubation or the time to fledging apparently are not reported.

Fire-eyed Diucon is a host of the brood parasitic Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) (Friedmann 1963), although to date the diucon is not known to have successfully reared Shiny Cowbirds (Friedmann and Kiff 1985).