The invertebrate diets of small birds in Banksia woodland near Perth, W.A., during winter.

Tullis, K.J., Calver, M.C.ORCID: 0000-0001-9082-2902 and Wooller, R.D. (1982) The invertebrate diets of small birds in Banksia woodland near Perth, W.A., during winter. Australian Wildlife Research, 9 (2). pp. 303-309.

Abstract

Honeyeaters (Meliphagidae) were the most abundant birds in Banksia woodland in winter; all species ate insects. Short-billed honeyeaters and non-nectarivores took mostly beetles, ants and bugs by gleaning, whereas long-billed honeyeaters fed more on nectar and caught mostly flies and wasps by hawking. Short-billed species segregated in their foraging heights, prey types and sizes. Long-billed species, however, overlapped considerably in these respects and all took similar insects whose capture they may have had to subsidize with energy from nectar.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Murdoch Affiliation:	School of Environmental and Life Sciences
Publisher:	Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organization
Copyright:	© CSIRO 1982
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/903

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