ABSTRACT
The gnateaters are a small Neotropical family composed of 10 species in two genera: Conopophaga and Pittasoma. Gnateaters are compact, short-tailed, long-legged, sexually dichromatic insectivores that spend much of their time near the forest floor. Ryder and Wolfe reviewed Pittasoma molt patterns and suggested that they follow a Complex Basic Strategy, and that the preformative molt is partial and does not include primary coverts, flight feathers, and, in some cases, greater coverts. Molt patterns of Conopophaga have not been studied elsewhere to the knowledge; however, at the site, the preformative molt in Conopophaga aurita is similar to that described for Pittasoma where molt limits were observed between median and greater coverts. More study is needed to confirm the extent of the preformative molt among Conopophaga. Skull ossification appears useful for aging the single species at the study site, Conopophaga aurita, where the skull appears to ossify during the formative plumage.
