Effects of food density on the behavior and distribution of nonbreeding American flamingos in Yucatan, Mexico

Article Abstract:

The potential food items of American Flamingos were sampled from Oct. 1992 to Jan. 1993 in Yucatan, Mexico's Celestun Estuary to study the effects of food density and distribution on the avian species Phoenicopterus ruber ruber. The analysis is based on the ideal free distribution model. The substrate and vegetation were found to contain food items that were mostly gastropods, muskgrass bulbils, crustaceans and chironomids. Results show that the distribution of flamingos was consistent with the model. However, storms were shown to significantly affect the distribution of the birds.

author: Baldassarre, Guy A., Arengo, Felicity
Analysis, Ornithological research, Seafood gathering

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Contest asymmetry and multiple bird conflicts during foraging among nonbreeding American flamingos in Yucatan, Mexico

Article Abstract:

The highly gregarious American Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber) engage in aggressive interactions during nonbreeding period. Body size is the primary source of asymmetry in fighting matches among foraging American flamingos. Contest intensity heightened among individuals of the same age and sex. The majority of multiple bird interactions were initiated together by a pair of adult male and female that have some degree of pair bonding between them. Aggressive interactions among flamingos are competitions for food that sometimes occur concurrently with competitions for mates.

author: Schmitz, Richard A., Baldassarre, Guy A.
Behavior, Birds, Animal fighting

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Correlates of flock size and behavior of foraging American flamingos following hurricane Gilbert in Yucatan, Mexico

Article Abstract:

American flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber) aggregate in large feeding flocks during the nonbreeding season. Feeding rate and group size increased following the shift in food availability caused by Hurricane Gilbert. The frequency of feeding head down increased with flock size. These imply that flamingos gain more by feeding than engaging in intraspecific fighting during times of food crisis. Aggression and flock size are uncorrelated.

author: Schmitz, Richard A., Baldassarre, Guy A.
Environmental aspects, Hurricane Gilbert, 1988

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subjects list: Food and nutrition, Natural history, Yucatan, Mexico, Flamingos, Research, Aggressive behavior in animals, Animal aggression
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