3 genus and species not identified
4 species not identified
The overall mean percentage in the diet of each food taxon was calculated for each bird species (Table 3.5A-B). Means for the various composition measures (i.e. percent of items, percent biomass, percent occurrence) were calculated separately and the overall mean percentage was calculated using one or more of these measures. Because the overall mean percentages were calculated using a number of different references and sampling methods they do not add up to 100%. Percent occurrence is not directly comparable with the other two measures (i.e. % of items, % biomass) as it is not related to the amount of a particular taxon consumed, and can add up to more than 100%. Furthermore, it often has relatively high values, so using percent occurrence to calculate the mean proportion of a particular taxon in the diet may inflate the mean. However, these were the only data available for some bird species (e.g. house sparrow Passer domesticus) so they had to be included in the analysis.
The proportion of cultivated species in the diet was also recorded, although these were not included in the rankings. For some bird species, however, crop seeds were the only plant items listed in the diet (e.g. rook Corvus frugilegus chicks ate only cereal grain), and rankings of weed taxa could not be calculated.
Some bird species appear to consume a much wider range of weed taxa than others, however this is to some extent a consequence of level of detail investigated within a study rather than the dietary breadth of individual species. Therefore it should be mentioned that the results presented here may not necessarily reflect real dietary preferences, but are based solely on what has been published in the literature. Preferences are only presented for those bird species for which quantitative data was available. Some species appeared to have distinct preferences for individual taxa, these making up a greater proportion of the diet than any other taxa. Whether this was a true dietary preferences cannot however be discerned without measurements of relative availability.
Table 3.5. Weed taxa important for individual bird species based on the mean proportion (%) in the diet from all references and sampling methods. N indicates the number of records used to calculate the mean proportion of each taxon. Mean percentage values are for seeds unless otherwise indicated: B = buds, F = flowers, FR = fruit, L = leaves, S = seeds. NB. * indicates that the overall mean percentage includes % occurrence, ** indicates the overall mean was calculated from % occurrence only. Rankings were determined at two different taxonomic levels - A: Plant families, B: Plant species. Weeds are listed in declining order of importance.
A: Plant families
ADULTS – BREEDING SEASON
|
Bird species
|
Bird age
|
Season
|
Plant family
|
Mean %
|
N
|
Chaffinch
|
adult
|
breeding
|
Labiatae
|
7.6
|
2
|
|
|
|
Caryophyllaceae
|
7.4
|
4
|
|
|
|
Chenopodiaceae
|
4.7
|
1
|
|
|
|
Poaceae
|
4.7
|
1
|
|
|
|
Cruciferae
|
3.5
|
1
|
|
|
|
Compositae
|
2.4
|
1
|
|
|
|
Violaceae
|
2.4
|
1
|
|
|
|
Polygonaceae
|
1.2
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goldfinch
|
adult
|
breeding
|
Compositae
|
*13.5
|
35
|
|
|
|
Dipsacaceae
|
*12.9
|
3
|
|
|
|
Pinaceae
|
10.2
|
1
|
|
|
|
Rosaceae (B/F)
|
*7.1
|
6
|
|
|
|
Caryophyllaceae
|
5.8
|
1
|
|
|
|
Polygonaceae
|
*5.1
|
3
|
|
|
|
Poaceae
|
*3.8
|
5
|
|
|
|
Ulmaceae
|
2.8
|
2
|
|
|
|
Plantaginaceae
|
**1.4
|
1
|
|
|
|
Betulaceae
|
*0.8
|
2
|
|
|
|
Ranunculaceae
|
**0.7
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greenfinch
|
adult
|
breeding
|
Polygonaceae
|
6.8
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grey partridge
|
adult
|
breeding
|
Polygonaceae
|
**31.0
|
2
|
|
|
|
Poaceae (L)
|
*26.0
|
10
|
|
|
|
Fabaceae
|
**23.5
|
2
|
|
|
|
Caryophyllaceae (L)
|
19.9
|
1
|
|
|
|
Caryophyllaceae
|
**11.0
|
2
|
|
|
|
Boraginaceae (L)
|
8.8
|
1
|
|
|
|
Labiatae
|
4.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
Polygonaceae (L)
|
3.8
|
1
|
|
|
|
Violaceae
|
2.1
|
1
|
|
|
|
Fabaceae (L)
|
1.9
|
1
|
|
|
|
Scrophulariaceae
|
0.2
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
House sparrow
|
adult
|
breeding
|
Caryophyllaceae
|
**2.7
|
4
|
|
|
|
Polygonaceae
|
**2.3
|
7
|
|
|
|
Chenopodiaceae
|
**0.8
|
3
|
|
|
|
Poaceae
|
**0.5
|
13
|
|
|
|
Amaranthaceae
|
**0.2
|
1
|
|
|
|
Compositae
|
**0.2
|
1
|
|
|
|
Cruciferae
|
**0.1
|
2
|
|
|
|
Rubiaceae
|
**0.1
|
1
|
|
|
|
Boraginaceae
|
**0.1
|
1
|
|
|
|
Plantaginaceae
|
**0.1
|
1
|
|
|
|
Fabaceae
|
**0.1
|
1
|
|
|
|
Valerianaceae
|
**0.1
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Linnet
|
adult
|
breeding
|
Cruciferae
|
57.0
|
3
|
|
|
|
Compositae
|
54.7
|
3
|
|
|
|
Polygonaceae
|
50.5
|
2
|
|
|
|
Ranunculaceae
|
30.0
|
2
|
|
|
|
Caryophyllaceae
|
22.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
Rosaceae
|
22.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reed bunting
|
adult
|
breeding
|
Polygonaceae
|
**8.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
Chenopodiaceae
|
**6.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
Labiatae
|
**6.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
Poaceae
|
**6.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock dove
|
adult
|
breeding
|
Cruciferae 5
|
28.7
|
1
|
|
|
|
Caryophyllaceae
|
9.3
|
1
|
|
|
|
Fabaceae (L)
|
6.3
|
1
|
|
|
|
Polygonaceae
|
1.3
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tree sparrow
|
adult
|
breeding
|
Polygonaceae
|
29.9
|
2
|
|
|
|
Cruciferae
|
8.8
|
3
|
|
|
|
Poaceae
|
6.9
|
10
|
|
|
|
Compositae
|
5.6
|
2
|
|
|
|
Caryophyllaceae (L)
|
3.1
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Turtle dove
|
adult
|
breeding
|
Fumariaceae
|
49.2
|
2
|
|
|
|
Chenopodiaceae
|
28.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
Amaranthaceae
|
*27.1
|
3
|
|
|
|
Euphorbiaceae
|
*23.9
|
3
|
|
|
|
Poaceae
|
21.4
|
2
|
|
|
|
Polygonaceae
|
19.2
|
3
|
|
|
|
Caryophyllaceae
|
13.7
|
4
|
|
|
|
Resedaceae
|
11.8
|
1
|
|
|
|
Cruciferae
|
7.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
Fabaceae
|
*0.8
|
3
|
|
|
|
Convolvulaceae
|
*0.5
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Woodpigeon
|
adult
|
breeding
|
Convolvulaceae (S/FR)
|
*15.1
|
3
|
|
|
|
Fabaceae (S/FR)
|
*10.2
|
9
|
|
|
|
Euphorbiaceae (S/FR)
|
*1.4
|
3
|
|
|
|
Poaceae
|
*1.1
|
2
|
ADULTS – NON-BREEDING SEASON
|
Chaffinch
|
adult
|
non-breeding
|
Chenopodiaceae
|
24.5
|
2
|
|
|
|
Cruciferae
|
15.8
|
4
|
|
|
|
Caryophyllaceae
|
11.7
|
8
|
|
|
|
Polygonaceae
|
5.0
|
11
|
|
|
|
Fagaceae
|
3.7
|
2
|
|
|
|
Poaceae
|
1.6
|
2
|
|
|
|
Compositae
|
1.1
|
1
|
|
|
|
Labiatae
|
1.0
|
3
|
|
|
|
Rosaceae
|
1.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
Violaceae
|
1.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cirl bunting
|
adult
|
non-breeding
|
Urticaceae
|
**86.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
Poaceae
|
**82.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
Caryophyllaceae
|
**33.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
Polygonaceae
|
**10.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
Compositae
|
**3.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corn bunting
|
adult
|
non-breeding
|
Polygonaceae
|
*47.8
|
2
|
|
|
|
Poaceae
|
*25.6
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goldfinch
|
adult
|
non-breeding
|
Betulaceae
|
37.2
|
4
|
|
|
|
Chenopodiaceae
|
19.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
Dipsacaceae
|
16.5
|
2
|
|
|
|
Compositae
|
9.9
|
15
|
|
|
|
Rosaceae
|
6.2
|
1
|
|
|
|
Polygonaceae
|
1.4
|
1
|
|
|
|
Pinaceae
|
0.7
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greenfinch
|
adult
|
non-breeding
|
Cruciferae
|
19.4
|
4
|
|
|
|
Compositae
|
15.5
|
7
|
|
|
|
Polygonaceae
|
8.2
|
9
|
|
|
|
Rosaceae
|
2.6
|
11
|
|
|
|
Taxaceae
|
1.8
|
2
|
|
|
|
Corylaceae
|
1.8
|
3
|
|
|
|
Chenopodiaceae
|
0.5
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grey partridge
|
adult
|
non-breeding
|
Poaceae (L)
|
*39.6
|
11
|
|
|
|
Fabaceae
|
**30.5
|
2
|
|
|
|
Poaceae
|
*22.7
|
6
|
|
|
|
Labiatae
|
*18.0
|
6
|
|
|
|
Caryophyllaceae
|
*14.3
|
9
|
|
|
|
Caryophyllaceae (L)
|
13.6
|
1
|
|
|
|
Polygonaceae
|
*11.1
|
19
|
|
|
|
Boraginaceae (L)
|
7.5
|
1
|
|
|
|
Chenopodiaceae
|
*4.8
|
5
|
|
|
|
Boraginaceae
|
*4.5
|
3
|
|
|
|
Polygonaceae (L)
|
3.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
Primulaceae
|
**3.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
Violaceae
|
*2.5
|
4
|
|
|
|
Compositae
|
**1.4
|
1
|
|
|
|
Labiatae (L)
|
1.3
|
1
|
|
|
|
Euphorbiaceae
|
**1.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
Scrophulariaceae
|
**1.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
Violaceae (L)
|
0.8
|
1
|
|
|
|
Scrophulariaceae (L)
|
0.8
|
1
|
|
|
|
Fabaceae (L)
|
0.7
|
1
|
|
|
|
Fumariaceae
|
0.3
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
House sparrow
|
adult
|
non-breeding
|
Chenopodiaceae
|
**6.5
|
1
|
|
|
|
Polygonaceae
|
**4.5
|
5
|
|
|
|
Caryophyllaceae
|
**1.8
|
2
|
|
|
|
Poaceae
|
**1.1
|
8
|
|
|
|
Rubiaceae
|
**0.6
|
1
|
|
|
|
Cruciferae
|
**0.6
|
1
|
|
|
|
Compositae
|
**0.6
|
1
|
|
|
|
Valerianaceae
|
**0.6
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Linnet
|
adult
|
non-breeding
|
Cruciferae
|
34.9
|
3
|
|
|
|
Chenopodiaceae
|
16.0
|
2
|
|
|
|
Polygonaceae
|
12.2
|
4
|
|
|
|
Compositae
|
2.4
|
3
|
|
|
|
Rosaceae
|
2.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
Plantaginaceae
|
0.4
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Red-legged partridge
|
adult
|
non-breeding
|
Poaceae
|
*20.2
|
4
|
|
|
|
Convolvulaceae
|
*14.6
|
2
|
|
|
|
Chenopodiaceae
|
*10.5
|
2
|
|
|
|
Caryophyllaceae
|
*10.2
|
3
|
|
|
|
Compositae
|
*9.1
|
2
|
|
|
|
Polygonaceae
|
*6.7
|
3
|
|
|
|
Fabaceae
|
*5.5
|
11
|
|
|
|
Rosaceae
|
*4.8
|
2
|
|
|
|
Umbelliferae
|
*4.1
|
2
|
|
|
|
Labiatae
|
*3.2
|
2
|
|
|
|
Scrophulariaceae
|
*2.6
|
2
|
|
|
|
Euphorbiaceae
|
*2.3
|
2
|
|
|
|
Geraniaceae
|
*1.8
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reed bunting
|
adult
|
non-breeding
|
Chenopodiaceae
|
*35.2
|
13
|
|
|
|
Amaranthaceae
|
*16.7
|
2
|
|
|
|
Poaceae
|
*11.3
|
11
|
|
|
|
Cruciferae
|
*10.3
|
4
|
|
|
|
Fabaceae
|
*3.8
|
2
|
|
|
|
Polygonaceae
|
*2.3
|
10
|
|
|
|
Compositae
|
*2.3
|
2
|
|
|
|
Plantaginaceae
|
*0.5
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Skylark
|
adult
|
non-breeding
|
Amaranthaceae
|
36.1
|
1
|
|
|
|
Polygonaceae
|
22.3
|
1
|
|
|
|
Labiatae
|
11.9
|
1
|
|
|
|
Chenopodiaceae
|
11.7
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock dove
|
adult
|
non-breeding
|
Cruciferae 5
|
13.0
|
2
|
|
|
|
Polygonaceae
|
5.3
|
2
|
|
|
|
Fabaceae (L)
|
4.0
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tree sparrow
|
adult
|
non-breeding
|
Cruciferae 5
|
34.5
|
1
|
|
|
|
Amaranthaceae
|
13.6
|
4
|
|
|
|
Chenopodiaceae
|
*10.8
|
3
|
|
|
|
Caprifoliaceae
|
10.6
|
1
|
|
|
|
Poaceae
|
10.1
|
10
|
|
|
|
Polygonaceae
|
**9.4
|
1
|
|
|
|
Compositae
|
*6.8
|
7
|
|
|
|
Ulmaceae
|
2.4
|
1
|
|
|
|
Apiaceae
|
2.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
Fabaceae
|
0.9
|
2
|
|
|
|
Rosaceae
|
0.9
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Woodpigeon
|
adult
|
non-breeding
|
Fagaceae (F/FR)
|
34.5
|
2
|
|
|
|
Fabaceae
|
9.7
|
3
|
|
CHICKS – BREEDING SEASON
|
Cirl bunting
|
chick
|
breeding
|
Urticaceae
|
**71.4
|
1
|
|
|
|
Poaceae
|
**57.1
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greenfinch
|
chick
|
breeding
|
Cruciferae
|
9.1
|
6
|
|
|
|
Euphorbiaceae
|
8.7
|
2
|
|
|
|
Ulmaceae
|
7.7
|
2
|
|
|
|
Compositae
|
2.9
|
10
|
|
|
|
Caryophyllaceae
|
2.6
|
2
|
|
|
|
Boraginaceae
|
1.1
|
4
|
|
|
|
Polygonaceae
|
1.1
|
7
|
|
|
|
Ranunculaceae
|
0.3
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grey partridge
|
chick
|
breeding
|
Labiatae
|
20.2
|
2
|
|
|
|
Caryophyllaceae
|
*13.0
|
9
|
|
|
|
Polygonaceae
|
*8.3
|
3
|
|
|
|
Poaceae
|
4.6
|
19
|
|
|
|
Ranunculaceae
|
1.4
|
2
|
|
|
|
Boraginaceae
|
0.8
|
2
|
|
|
|
Euphorbiaceae
|
0.1
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Linnet
|
chick
|
breeding
|
Rosaceae
|
**20.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
Compositae
|
*18.1
|
25
|
|
|
|
Violaceae
|
**14.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
Caryophyllaceae
|
*13.7
|
18
|
|
|
|
Polygonaceae
|
*10.3
|
13
|
|
|
|
Euphorbiaceae
|
10.2
|
2
|
|
|
|
Ranunculaceae
|
*9.9
|
2
|
|
|
|
Ulmaceae
|
*9.0
|
3
|
|
|
|
Poaceae
|
*6.2
|
18
|
|
|
|
Cruciferae
|
*4.8
|
12
|
|
|
|
Compositae
|
3.2
|
13
|
|
|
|
Araliaceae
|
**3.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
Chenopodiaceae
|
1.2
|
3
|
|
|
|
Labiatae
|
0.3
|
2
|
|
|
|
Boraginaceae
|
0.2
|
4
|
|
|
|
Geraniaceae
|
0.1
|
1
|
|
|
|
Fabaceae
|
0.1
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock dove
|
chick
|
breeding
|
Cruciferae 5
|
27.5
|
2
|
|
|
|
Ranunculaceae
|
18.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
Poaceae
|
8.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
Caryophyllaceae
|
2.3
|
2
|
|
|
|
Compositae
|
1.7
|
1
|
|
|
|
Polygonaceae
|
1.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Turtle dove
|
chick
|
breeding
|
Fumariaceae
|
29.6
|
4
|
|
|
|
Violaceae
|
12.2
|
3
|
|
|
|
Caryophyllaceae
|
9.7
|
10
|
|
|
|
Cruciferae
|
9.0
|
1
|
|
|
|
Resedaceae
|
2.8
|
6
|
|
|
|
Poaceae
|
2.6
|
5
|
|
|
|
Polygonaceae
|
2.4
|
9
|
|
|
|
Ranunculaceae
|
2.1
|
1
|
|
|
|
Urticaceae
|
1.4
|
3
|
|
|
|
Chenopodiaceae
|
0.6
|
1
|
5 mean percentage may include crop species such as Brassica napus (not specified in references)
|
Yüklə 6.33 Mb.