The diet of the Dunnock (Prunella modularis) in southeastern Spain during winter.

Full article

Published:

Volume 38(2), December 1991. Pages 305-315.

Language:

Spanish

Original title:

Alimentación del Acentor Común (Prunella modularis) durante su invernada en el sureste de la Península Ibérica

Keywords:

Dunnock, Prunella modularis, diet, Southern Spain.

Abstract:

The diet of the Dunnock (Prunella modularis) in southern Spain was studied by analyzing 70 stomach contents collected between October and February. This species showed a mixed diet, with a large component of vegetable matter (48,5 % of volume). Seeds of Cistaceae, Gramineae and Papilionaceae were the most important food items. The animal fraction was mainly composed by Hymenopterans (Formicidae) and Coleopterans (global index of relative importance, IG = 61,6 and 49,7 respectively). Grit was found in 100 % of the stomach contents analyzed. Its colume represented 32,2 %, and an average of 112,7 grits/gizzard were found. The size of the seeds eaten was 2,03+0,02 mm (n =564), whereas the size of the insects eaten was 4,9+0,1 mm (n=341). By analyzing the characteristic habitat of the preys found, we may conclude that most of the invertebrates preyed were taken from the ground (82,7 %).