Feeding Ecology of the Bengalee, Lonchura striata var. domestica (Estrildidae)

Abstract

The amount of seeds of foxtail millet and green leaves of cabbage consumed by a pair and fed to nestlings was measured in the bengalee Lonchura striata var. domestica under experimental conditions of a constant temperature of 24±1°C and 14-photoperiod (14L: 10D). Each pair consumed daily 4.29 g dry wt. of millet seeds and 0.21 g dry wt. of cabbage leaves. The latter was 4.7% of the total amount of food. The amount of millet fed to the nestlings increased from hatching till the 19th day and then became constant and/or slightly decreased. In contrast, the amount of cabbage fed to the nestlings increased till the 12th day but thereafter decreased and after the 20th day became nearly constant. On the 25th day the ratio of cabbage to the total food was 5.3%. The pattern of change in the total amount of food fed to the nestlings was similar to that in the amount of the fed millet because of the less proportions of the amount of cabbage.