FORAGING BEHAVIOUR AND SELECTION OF PREY AND PERCHES BY THE BUFFSTREAKED CHAT OENANTHE BIFASCIATA

Abstract

Summary Tye, A. 1988. Foraging behaviour and selection of prey and perches by the Buffstreaked Chat Oenanthe bifasciata. Ostrich 59: 105–115. Non-breeding Buffstreaked Chats Oenanthe bifasciata were studied in the Natal Drakensberg. Birds spent over 70% of their time foraging and 20% resting; both sexes sang, males c. 16% of the time. Individuals occupied overlapping home ranges; intra- and inter-specific aggressive interactions were recorded. Most foraging was by ground and aerial sallying from boulders, and all foraging methods were essentially sit-and-wait techniques. Buffstreaked Chats' most preferred perches were rocks 1,5-3 m high. Perches 1,5-3 m high were more likely to yield an aerial sally, while perches < 1,5 m were more likely to yield a ground sally or to be abandoned without a foraging attempt. Giving-up times were longer on perches 1,5-3 m high, but pre-capture waiting times were similar for perches of all heights. Giving-up times were longer than pre-capture times on perches 1,5-3 m high, ...