Diet of the spotted dikkop burhinus capensis
TL;DR: Analysis of 81 stomach samples of Spotted Dikkops Burhinus capensis collected in the central arts of South Africa shows clear trends in the diet of the species and its distribution in the region.
Abstract: Summary Kok, O.B. 1993. Diet of the Spotted Dikkop Burhinus capensis. Ostrich 64:182-184. Analysis of 81 stomach samples of Spotted Dikkops Burhinus capensis collected in the central arts of South Africa over a period of eight years showed this species to be predominantly insectivorous. Coleoptera, followed by Isoptera (exclusively represented by the harvester termite Hodotermes mossambicus) made up the bull of the insect material. Coleoptera were the only prey items taken throughout the year, while Isoptera were mainly consumed during the winter months and early summer. The remainder of the animal matter in the diet was dominated by Diplopoda.
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TL;DR: Foraging behaviour and substrate, i.e. whether foraging in the air, from a perch or on the ground, significantly influenced the probability that ants would be included in the diet of bird species in southern Africa.
Abstract: Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are eaten by a number of bird species in southern Africa. Our database contained 545 species (excluding waterbirds and raptors), of which 179 species have been observed feeding on ants, or had ants in their stomachs. Ants are eaten by birds in all ecosystems, but the consumption of ants is disproportionately high in species that occur in arid ecosystems. The number of bird species eating ants increases in proportion to the number of bird species in any ecosystem, but it increases disproportionately with decreasing mean annual rainfall. There was a small, but not significant, difference in the proportion of ant-eating bird species between 502 resident species, of which 154 (30.6%) eat ants, and 47 nomadic species, of which 18 (38.2%) eat ants. Foraging behaviour and substrate, i.e. whether foraging in the air, from a perch or on the ground, significantly influenced the probability that ants would be included in the diet.
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Book•
[...]
01 Jan 1982
TL;DR: This is the eighth and final volume in the authoritative Birds of Africa series as discussed by the authors, which covers the Malagasy region which comprises Madagascar and the various islands and archipelagos of the Indian Ocean including the Seychelles, the Comoros, Mauritius and Reunion.
Abstract: This is the eighth and final volume in the authoritative Birds of Africa series. It covers the Malagasy region which comprises Madagascar and the various islands and archipelagos of the Indian Ocean including the Seychelles, the Comoros, Mauritius and Reunion. Every resident and migrant species is covered in full detail, comparable to other volumes in the series, and with a colour map for each species. Vagrants are treated in less detail. All species are illustrated on a beautiful series of 64 colour plates, with original artwork from John Gale and Brian Small.This is a major work of reference on the birds of the region and will remain the standard text for many years to come."
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors collected a sample of ant-eating chats Myrmecocichla formicivora over a 12-month period to analyse the stomach contents.
Abstract: During a survey of terrestrial arthropods in the central Orange Free State we collected a sample of ant-eating chats Myrmecocichla formicivora over a 12-month period to analyse the stomach contents. Throughout the year Hymenoptera (ants) were the most abundant arthropods in the pitfall traps with Isoptera common in winter. Although a wide variety of arthropod prey items was taken, there seemed to be some selection from the available prey. During winter a significantly higher number of prey items was taken than during summer. It is postulated that the different foraging methods employed during summer and winter, as well as the variation in the numbers and diversity of the prey, are responsible for the observed differences between the summer and winter diets of the ant-eating chat.
4 citations