Moult is associated with higher diversity of food items in the diet of Common Bulbuls ( Pycnonotus barbatus ) in Cameroon

Jarrett, Crinan; Nwaogu, Chima J.; Tchana, Christian N.; Kamkeng, Michelle F. M.; Quiñones, Alma L. S.; Olguin‐Villa, Monica C.; Helm, Barbara; Powell, Luke L.; Welch, Andreanna J.

Abstract

Moult is an essential part of birds' annual cycle, and requires sufficient intake of energy and nutrients, but we understand little about how such nutritional requirements are met by wild birds. Using faecal metabarcoding, we analysed the diet of moulting and non‐moulting Common Bulbuls Pycnonotus barbatus, captured in Cameroon. We found that the diet of moulting birds was more diverse than that of non‐moulting birds, with approximately 1.5 times more arthropod and plant taxa, plus evidence of dietary composition differences between groups. Our results provide novel insight of a likely strategy used by wild birds to fuel the essential self‐maintenance task of moult.

Citation

Jarrett, C., Nwaogu, C. J., Tchana, C. N., Kamkeng, M. F. M., Quiñones, A. L. S., Olguin‐Villa, M. C., Helm, B., Powell, L. L., & Welch, A. J. (online). Moult is associated with higher diversity of food items in the diet of Common Bulbuls ( Pycnonotus barbatus ) in Cameroon. Ibis: International Journal of Avian Science, https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.13395

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 22, 2025
• Online Publication Date: Feb 11, 2025
• Deposit Date: Mar 5, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 5, 2025
• Journal: Ibis: International Journal of Avian Science
• Print ISSN: 0019-1019
• Electronic ISSN: 1474-919X
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.13395
• Keywords: diet, breeding, Common Bulbul, fruit, arthropod, seasonality, moult, metabarcoding
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3487657