Parasitism is an important mechanism affecting populations and communities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ectoparasites fauna living on the body of the white-necked trush, Turdus albicollis Vieillot, 1818, and to evaluate if the host body mass is affected by these parasites. Turdus albicollis were monthly captured at Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro, from July 1999 to June 2000 in an area of Atlantic Forest. The birds were individualy marked, weighed and carefully checked to record and quantify the presence of ectoparasites. Parasite abundance and location on the bird's body were recorded. In 54 individuals of T. albicollis sampled, two ectoparasite species were found. The prevalence of the feather mite Pterodectes turdinus Berla, 1959, and the tick Amblyomma longirostre Koch, 1844 was 72,2% and 27,8%, respectively. The monthly abundance of P. turdinus was related to the dry and wet months, and it was significantly higher in the dry months than in the wet months. There was no significant relationship between hosts body mass (g) and total abundance of feather mites and ticks.
Amblyomma longirostre; ectoparasitism; host; Pterodectes turdinus