Premigratory diet of trans-Saharan migrant passerines in the western Sahel

Abstract

Faecal analysis was used to investigate the relative contribution of arthropods and fruit to the premigratory diet of the Redstart and 4 European Sylvia warblers in Senegal in March. The warblers showed greater premigratory fattening and higher fruit consumption than the Redstart. Berries of the shrub Salvadora persica¸ were exploited by all species with berries over 5 mm diameter being selected.