Bill Length of Non-breeding Shorebirds Influences the Water Depth Preferences for Foraging in the West Coast of India.

ABSTRACT: Body size, bill length and shape determine foraging techniques, habitat selection and diet among shorebirds. In this study, water depth preferences of different shorebirds with different bill sizes in various habitats including mudflats, mangroves at Kadalundi-Vallikkunnu Community Reserve (KVCR) (19 shorebird species) and adjacent agroecosystems at Vazhakkad (12 species) were studied between 2017 and 2020. The bill length of the shorebirds was significantly and positively associated with the average water depth, where shorebirds were observed to forage. Shorebirds with shorter bill lengths preferred shallow waters and those with longer bills preferred deep waters for their foraging activities. Habitat type also had a significant effect on the shorebird occurrence. Eurasian Curlews in both

SUBMITTER: Aarif KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11494249 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature