Foraging behavior of forest birds: the relationships among search tactics, diet, and habitat structure

Author:

Robinson, Scott K., Holmes, Richard T.

Title:

Foraging behavior of forest birds: the relationships among search tactics, diet, and habitat structure

Periodical:

Ecology

Year:

1982

Volume:

63

Pages:

1918-1931

Subject:

Foraging behavior Birds food Diet Forest birds Vegetation structure

Summary:

The frequency and kinds of prey that are encountered by animals largely determines the methods by which they search for food. While, the relationship between searching behavior and diet has been studied extensively in certain invertebrate groups, this has been found to be especially true among parasitic insects, predatory coccinellid beetles, and some herbivorous caterpillars. However, despite the interest in vertebrate foraging behavior, investigators have only recently examined the ways in which these animals search for food and its significance for understanding patterns of resource exploitation and community structure. In addition, only studies on thrushes, flycatchers, and warblers have clearly demonstrated a relationship between the search paths of insectivorous birds and the kinds of prey taken. In this paper, the search tactics that were used by 11 species of passerine birds that foraged for insects among the foliage of a northern hardwoods forest was examined and, through dietary analysis, related these to the prey that were obtained. These factors, particularly with regard to the vegetation structure and resource availability, were then discussed that influenced these patterns and considered the implications for understanding bird habitat selection and community structure. This study was conducted on a 10-ha plot in the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in West Thornton, New Hampshire, USA, during the summer months of mid-June - mid-July in 1974 and 1979 and were done mostly between the hours of 0600 and 1200 Eastern Standard Time.

Label:

Birds - General

URL:

http://cletus.uhh.hawaii.edu:2074/10.2307/1940130

Date:

December 1982

Collection:

Periodicals