Diet and foraging behaviour of the Rosy-faced Lovebird Agapornis roseicollis in Namibia

Abstract

The natural diet of the Rosy-faced Lovebird in the wild was investigated from January–August 2004, at three Namibian locations: Claratal, Hohewarte and Haris. Foraging patterns, habitat use, daily feeding activities and preferred dietary species were investigated. The lovebirds fed on food items from at least 19 species, which included seeds, green and dry leaves, dry leaf stems, plant fruits and cattle and horse dung; they also ingested soil. Seeds of Anthephora schinzii were the most preferred food item. Ground-level flock foraging was dominant, with a mean size of 7.3 ± 8.9. The feeding lovebird flocks associated with flocks of doves, pigeons and weavers. The lovebirds were crepuscular and most (53%) foraging observations were recorded in open grassland with scattered shrubs of up to 10m.

Ostrich 2006, 77(1&2): 45–51