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Observations of mixed-species bird flocks at Kichwa Tembo Camp, Kenya
journal contribution
posted on 2023-08-30, 13:33 authored by Alasdair I. V. Gordon, Nancy M. HarrisonMixed-species foraging flocks were studied at Kichwa Tembo Camp on the edge of the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya between July and September 2004. Observations were made on 29 mixed-species flocks, in which 24 species participated. African Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis, Black-backed Puffback Dryoscopus cubla, Grey-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyura, Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collars and Cabanis's Greenbul Phyllastrephus cabanisi were the most common participants in mixed-species flocks, as well as among the most frequently encountered bird species overall. The Black-backed Puffback was identified as the nuclear species in flocks due to their abundance and frequency with which they were followed by other species. Mixed-species flocks represent another niche dimension in this diverse bird community, but few of these species could be described as flock specialists; most of the birds observed in mixed-species flocks in this study were opportunistic attendant species, including the African Pygmy-Kingfisher Ispidina picta, not previously described as joining mixed-species flocks.
History
Refereed
- Yes
Volume
81Issue number
3Page range
259-264Publication title
Ostrich: Journal of African OrnithologyISSN
1727-947XExternal DOI
Publisher
Taylor & FrancisFile version
- Accepted version
Language
- eng
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Legacy posted date
2011-06-20Legacy creation date
2020-12-17Legacy Faculty/School/Department
ARCHIVED Faculty of Science & Technology (until September 2018)Usage metrics
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