THE FORAGING BEHAVIOUR OF AVIAN NECTARIVORES IN A MONSOONAL AUSTRALIAN WOODLAND OVER A SIX-MONTH PERIOD
| Posted: |
03/08/2021 |
| Author(s): |
Donald C. Franklin |
The foraging behaviour of one lorikeet and six honeyeater species were compared over a six
month period in tropical woodland near Darwin, Northern Territory. The study identified three broad
groupings of nectarivores - the Rainbow Lorikeet, small honeyeaters (Brown, Dusky) and large
honeyeaters (Silver-crowned and Little Friarbird, Blue-faced Honeyeater and Yellow-throated Miner).
These groups were differentiated principally on relative dependence upon flowers and choice of flower
types, but also on non-nectar foraging strategies. Larger nectarivores fed predominantly in eucalypts
and smaller nectarivores at a greater variety of sources. There was surprisingly little variation between
honeyeater species in their dependence upon flowers (54-74% of foraging observations), but the
Rainbow Lorikeet fed almost exclusively at flowers. The study suggests several ways in which tropical
Australian nectarivore communities may differ from their temperate-zone counterparts.
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