2005/03/01 by A. I. Adeyemo, I. A. Ayodele · 2 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Environmental Science · #Livestock and Poultry Management #Animal Nutrition and Physiology #Avian ecology and behavior #Biology #Dry season #National park #Wet season #Fowl #Ecology #Predation #Animal science
paper · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2028.2005.00371.x
openalex publication_date 2005/03/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/22
Abstract The rock fowl is an endangered species and its food and feeding ecology was studied in the forest zone of Old Oyo National Park, Nigeria. The methods used were direct observation, and fragmentation analysis of faecal and crop content of samples collected during both the wet and dry seasons. The results showed that rock fowl feed on a wide range of species of insects, fruits and flower buds. In the wet season, animal resources represented 54 and 62% of the adult and chick diet, respectively, whereas in the dry season, animal food resources represented about 60% of both adult and the chick diets. There was a significant difference ( P < 0.05) in the food composition of the birds between the dry and wet seasons. There was also a significant ( P < 0.05) difference in food preference between adults and chicks. Food sharing was not common, although it was observed between rock fowl cockerels and hens. Food search and selection indices were directly related to season and food availability. It was concluded that food scarcity may not be a serious contributory factor in the threat to the rock fowl.