Predation of Lined Seedeater (Sporophila lineola) nests by the Red-legged Seriema (Cariama cristata)

Here, we report the predation of Lined Seedeater (Sporophila lineola) nests by the Red-legged Seriema (Cariama cristata). The study was conducted during the 2021–2022 breeding season on the Campus Florestal of the Federal University of Viçosa, southeastern Brazil, where nests of the species were monitored using action cameras. Two nest predation events were filmed in January 2020, when nestlings were on the second and eight days after hatching. Despite being primarily terrestrial and known for its limited flight capacity, the Red-legged Seriema were able to prey on relatively high nests (150–210 cm above the ground). Predation involved rapid and targeted attacks, in which the predator removed the entire nest from the tree. Although the Red-legged Seriema is recognized as a generalist and opportunistic predator, with previous records of predation on adult birds and other vertebrates, nest predation behaviour had not been previously described in the scientific literature. Our observations provide new insights into the predatory repertoire of Red-legged Seriemas and highlight its role as a nest predator, with implications for understanding the reproductive success of birds and predator-prey dynamics in open landscapes in the Neotropics.