TIME-OF-DAY BUT NOT SEASONALITY INFLUENCES FEEDING AND DIURNAL TIME ACTIVITY BUDGET OF ADULT RED-CAPPED LARK (Calandrella cinerea).

Abstract

Passerines are unusually rich and successful avian species. As a result, the diverse life history traits of tropical passerines that have not been intensively studied offer researchers unique opportunities to fill in existing knowledge gaps on their ecology as well as test the evolutionary and ecological theory. This study assessed the feeding behaviour of the all year round breeding tropical Red-capped Lark in relation to its diurnal time activity. Observations on adult birds were undertaken between March-August 2016 at their natural open grassland habitat (Naivasha, Kenya) during breeding and non-breeding seasons. We found no significant difference in mean feeding rates and search rate between seasons. However, time-of-day influenced feeding activities.When breeding, mean feeding rates were significantly higher for morning than mid-morning. The mean search rates were significantly higher for evening than for morning and mid-morning. During non-breeding season, mean feeding rates were significantly higher for morning than mid-morning but no significance difference in mean search rates for the time periods. This study provides key knowledge on Red-capped Lark's feeding behaviour that in combination with future studies on other aspects of the behaviour can contribute to improving the management of threatened habitats of grassland birds.