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5 February 2021 Nest predation of an African Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone viridis) by an Olive Sunbird (Cyanomitra olivacea)
William D. Newmark, Victor J. Mkongewa
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Nest predation is the dominant cause of nest failure in the tropics. However, our knowledge about tropical nest predator identity and community structure is still quite limited. On 9 January 2019, we video-recorded an Olive Sunbird (Cyanomitra olivacea) removing and flying off with an egg from an African Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone viridis) nest in the East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania. This observation is surprising because the Olive Sunbird is a specialized nectarivore. Nectar, however, is a poor source of nitrogen and cannot meet the protein requirements for nectarivores. We hypothesize that bird eggs are a potential source of protein for selected long-billed sunbird species—species that can grasp and handle small bird eggs. Our observation of nest predation by an Olive Sunbird adds a heretofore unknown behavior to nectarivores in general and to sunbirds specifically.

William D. Newmark and Victor J. Mkongewa "Nest predation of an African Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone viridis) by an Olive Sunbird (Cyanomitra olivacea)," The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 132(2), 463-466, (5 February 2021). https://doi.org/10.1676/1559-4491-132.2.463
Received: 22 October 2019; Accepted: 24 July 2020; Published: 5 February 2021
KEYWORDS
East Usambara Mountains
nectarivore
nest predation
protein requirements
Tanzania
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