The diet of nestling rainbow bee-eaters, Merops ornatus, on Rottnest Island, Western Australia, and observations on a non-destructive method of diet analysis

Calver, M.C., Saunders, D.A. and Porter, B.D. (1987) The diet of nestling rainbow bee-eaters, Merops ornatus, on Rottnest Island, Western Australia, and observations on a non-destructive method of diet analysis. Australian Wildlife Research, 14 (4). pp. 541-550.

Abstract

The diet of nestling rainbow bee-eaters was determined by analysis of droppings and regurgitated pellets. In total, 2187 insects from 10 families were identified: Hymenoptera (95%), including Scoliidae (14%), Tiphiidae (38%), Sphecidae (18.5%), Apoidea (1%), Formicoidea (7.5%) and undetermined Hymenoptera (16%); Coleoptera, Buprestidae (1.5%); Diptera, Muscidae (<1%); Hemiptera (3%); Odonata (<1%); and Orthoptera (<1%). The relative proportions of the different prey types varied significantly between sites and between different sampling times at the same site. There were also site-related differences in the mean length of nestling prey and at 3 of 6 sites nestlings were fed different sizes of prey during their development.