Effects of habitat and invertebrate density on abundance and foraging behavior of brown-headed cowbirds
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Authors: D. L. Morris, and F. R. Thompson, III
Date: 1998
Journal: The Auk
Volume: 115
Number: 2
Pages: 376-385
Summary of Methods: Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) predominately used short-grazed grasslands for foraging. This preference of habitat is associated with the high invertebrate densities in these areas. Cowbird flock sizes were larger in grazed grasslands and in feedlots than in ungrazed grasslands. Cowbirds chose to feed near cattle (Bos taurus) without preference of grass height. Feedlots had the lowest density and biomass of invertebrates, and the highest peck rates due to the increased availability of hayseed and grain. Overall, cattle proved to be an important factor of the habitat impacting cowbird foraging behavior.
Article Summary / Main Points: None
Vegetation Types:
MLRA Ecoregions:
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: molothrus ater, bos taurus, feedlots, short-grazed grasslands, ungrazed grasslands, grass height
Annotation: Seven small cattle farms were used as study sites and averaged in size of 52.7 ha. The five habitat types were (1) short-grazed grass (cattle grazed to 2-20 cm), (2) short-ungrazed grass (mowed lawns or hayfields with grass heights of 2-10 cm), (3) tall-grazed grass (grazed to 5-30 cm), (4) tall-ungrazed grass (unmowed hayfields with grass heights >30 cm), (5) feedlots (lacking grass where cattle are fed processed feed or grain).
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