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 pre-migratory diet of the Redstart and 4 European Sylvia warblers in Senegal in March. The warblers showed greater pre-migratory 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.