Sequential activities in the feeding behaviour of some Charadriiformes

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The feeding behaviour of 13 species of Charadriiformes is analysed for differences in activity and for overall feeding pattern. Matrices showing the frequency distributions of transitions between the various feeding behaviour events are compared quantitatively for degree of similarity. Four of the five charadriid species studied showed a concentration on overt surface feeding with swift stepping speeds and an elaboration of frequent pauses into the pattern. The remaining charadriid, Haematopus ostralegus, lacked both these characteristics and resembled a ‘typical scolopacid’, with virtually constant step and probe activity. Two further scolopacid groups are recognizable; one comprising Arenaria interpres and Calidris maritima which included both pauses and scratches in an otherwise typical scolopacid framework and another comprising Calidris canuta which lacked pauses and showed a specialized form of probing of high intensity. It is suggested that a form of the multipurpose feeding shown by A. interpres and C. maritima may have been the pattern from which the other forms of feeding behaviour have diverged. The charadriids have specialized on audiovisual ‘surface’ feeding whilst the remaining scolopacids and H. ostralegus have specialized on olfactory-tactile ‘probe’ feeding. The behaviour of Charadrius hiaticula is also to some extent similar to the scolopacids, but only marginally so and is very much closer to the main charadriid line. The feeding behaviour of Charadriiformes may be important in the gestalt recognition of birds by other birds on the feeding grounds.

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: