Nutrition of background forest species of migratory passerine birds during the early-spring period

Authors

  • Dmitry G. Domantsevich Belarusian State University, Niezaliežnasci Avenue, 4, 220030, Minsk, Belarus

Keywords:

nutrition, food content, passerine birds, early-spring period, food items, Belarus
Supporting Agencies
The author expresses his thanks to PhD (biology) L.S. Chumakov, PhD (biology) Zh. E. Meleshko, PhD (biology) D. I. Tretʼyakov, PhD (biology) O. L. Nesterova, PhD (biology) V. N. Tikhomirov for the advisory help in identification of feed objects. In collection of materials were also involved doctor of science (biology), head of the department of general ecology and methods of biology teaching V. V. Grichik (faculty of biology, Belarusian State University), researcher at the National Park «Beloviezskaja Pustchia» A. I. Kuzʼmitskii, as well as students of the faculty of biology (Belarusian State University) S. Ch. Smyalkovskaya, A. V. Rak, S. A. Orlovskii and A. O. Saulov.

Abstract

In this work the food content of four background forestry migratory passerine birds of Belarus: Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), Robin (Erithacus rubecula), Blackbird and Song trush (Turdus merula, Turdus philomelos) in conditions of the early-spring period is analyzed. The work is based on the results of digestive tracts contents analysis of birds that died during the period from 2010 to 2015 from the last ten-day period of March to the last ten-day period of April in different regions of the country. Totally 919 food items were found in the digestive tracts of studied species of birds. In Chaffinch nutrition it is noted a high occurrence and proportion of weevils (Curculionoidae). In Robin nutrition − the presence of invertebrates of different ecological groups and the complete absence of plant foods. The consumption of coniferous trees seeds on the territory of Belarus in the early spring by Blackbirds and Song trushes is notes, that is reported in the literature for the first time. For Chaffinches, Robins and Blackbirds some general patterns in the consumption of animal feeds have been revealed: more than 50 % of all food objects in their diet are insects, of which more than half are coleopterans of different taxonomic and ecological groups. 

Author Biography

  • Dmitry G. Domantsevich, Belarusian State University, Niezaliežnasci Avenue, 4, 220030, Minsk, Belarus

    postgraduate student at the department of general ecology and methods of biology teaching, faculty of biology

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Published

2018-05-03

Issue

No. 3 (2017): Journal of the Belarusian State University. Biology

Section

Zoology and Botany

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How to Cite

Domantsevich, D. G. (2018). Nutrition of background forest species of migratory passerine birds during the early-spring period. Experimental Biology and Biotechnology, 3, 101-112. https://journals.bsu.by/index.php/biology/article/view/2467