Opportunistic Nectarivory: An Annual Dry Season Phenomenon Among Birds in Monsoonal Northern Australia

In the Top End of the Northern Territory, 21 bird species other than honeyeaters, lorikeets and white-eyes were observed to probe flowers in apparent opportunistic nectarivory. Thirteen families were represented. The most frequent opportunists were insectivores, frugivores and a terrestrial omnivore...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inEmu Vol. 99; no. 2; pp. 135 - 141
Main Author Franklin, Donald C.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Taylor & Francis 01.06.1999
Subjects
Aves
birds
Corymbia
dry season
Eucalyptus miniata
flowers
frugivores
fruits
granivores
Grevillea
insectivores
insects
nectar
nectar feeding
Northern Territory
omnivores
Northern Territory
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Summary:In the Top End of the Northern Territory, 21 bird species other than honeyeaters, lorikeets and white-eyes were observed to probe flowers in apparent opportunistic nectarivory. Thirteen families were represented. The most frequent opportunists were insectivores, frugivores and a terrestrial omnivore; granivores were also recorded. A vari-ety of nectar sources were exploited but 85% of records were from Darwin Woollybutt Eucalyptus miniata and Fern-leaved Grevillea Grevillea pteridifolia . Opportunistic nectarivory was concentrated particularly in the cool dry season, which in monsoonal Australia is a time of abundant nectar but shortages of fruit and insects. Darwin Woollybutt, Fern-leaved Grevillea and perhaps also the Bloodwood Corymbia opaca may be vital resources upon which a range of species in addition to lorikeets and honeyeaters depend for survival. Emu 99(2) 135 - 141 Full text doi:10.1071/MU99016 © CSIRO 1999
Bibliography:Emu is the premier journal for ornithological research and reviews in the Southern Hemisphere, publishing high-quality papers in all branches of bird research
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ISSN:0158-4197
1448-5540
1448-5540
DOI:10.1071/MU99016