Title: Preliminary investigations on diet and breeding biology of the Indian roller Coracias benghalensis in a portion of Cauvery delta, Tamil Nadu, India.
Abstract: Diet composition and breeding biology of the Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis was studied between 2005 and 2006 in a portion of Cauvery delta, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu, India. The diet composition of the Indian Roller was described based on the regurgitated pellets (n=712). The results revealed that the Indian Roller preys mainly on Coleoptera (26.6%), followed by Orthoptera (19.5%), Hemiptera (16.7%), Hymenoptera (14.2%), Diptera (9.1%), Odonata (6.7%) and Lepidoptera (6.5%). A total of 11 nest-sites were studied and the Indian Roller highly preferred holes/ cavities found in Coconut trees Cocos nucifera (45.5%). For Indian Roller, nest tree height averaged 14.6 ± 6.51m above ground, nest tree DBH averaged 66.7 ± 8.16cm and nest hole location height averaged 5.8 ± 5.04m above ground. The mean length, circumference and depth of nest holes/cavities were 14.3 ± 2.52, 33.8 ± 4.39 and 68.6 ± 6.41cm, respectively. Clutch size varied from 2 to 5 with a mean of 3.2 ± 0.75. The maximum and minimum length and width of eggs were 39.0 x 33.0 and 31.0 x 27.0mm, respectively. Weight of the eggs varied between 12.0 and 16.0g. The newly hatched nestlings were 10.8 ± 1.39g in weight and reached a maximum of 291.0 ± 7.96g on day 24. A reduction in weight was observed during the last few days and nestlings weighed on average 248.1 ± 5.85g before leave out the nest. The other body parts attained their adult size before fledging. The hatching and fledging success of the Indian Roller were 78.9 and 80.3%, respectively.
Publication Year: 2009
Publication Date: 2009-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 5
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