Abstract

VILLEGAS-RETANA, Sergio A.  and  ARAYA-H., David. Consumption of Terminalia catappa fruits and use of leaves as tools by the bird Araambiguus (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae) in Costa Rica. Cuadernos de Investigación UNED [online]. 2017, vol.9, n.2, pp.199-201. ISSN 1659-4266.  http://dx.doi.org/10.22458/urj.v9i2.1894.

There are few studies on the diet of neotropical birds, including psittacines. The green macaw (Araambiguus) feeds on the seeds of the mountain almond tree (Dipteryxpanamensis), titor (Sacoglottistrichogyna) and other species. However there are no reports of this species feeding on beach almond (Terminalia catappa). Here we inform that it uses leaves as a tools to feed on it. Its consumption could be due to the lack of fruits of D. panamensis and S. trichogyna, and to the high nutritional value of the seed. Using the leaves to peel the pericarp can be a strategy to avoid its’ bitter taste.

Keywords : Araambiguus; diet; feeding behavior; Terminalia catappa; Suerre.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )