Abstract

Age‐related differences in foraging efficiency and behaviour were investigated in a population of colour‐ringed Silvereyes Zosterops lateralis. First‐year birds were less efficient foragers than older birds with second‐year birds being intermediate. First‐ and second‐year birds had lower success rates than older birds overall, and for most capture techniques and substrates. First‐year birds never attempted breeding while about half of the second‐year birds and all of the older birds did. Both learning and selection effects may have been involved in causing the age‐related differences in foraging behaviour. Foraging skills appear to improve during the first 2 years of life and selection could remove the least efficient foragers from the population in winter when food is short. That second‐year birds, some of which had already attempted breeding, were not significantly more efficient foragers than first‐year birds suggests that reproduction is not delayed until adult levels of foraging efficiency have been attained.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.