Temporal changes of foraging niche among breeding tits (Paridae) in a Korean temperate deciduous forest

Abstract

The temporal change of foraging niche among breeding tits (Great Tit Parus major, Varied Tit P. varius, Marsh Tit P. palustris and Coal Tit P. ater) was studied in a Korean temperate deciduous forest from December 1998 to June 1999. We studied foraging niches in terms of foraging location, foraging maneuver and prey size, and measured morphological characters of tits. Great Tit had the largest body length among tits. There was significant difference in foraging locations among months and across species. Foraging maneuvers and prey sizes did not significantly differ among months, but showed inter-specific differences. There was a negative correlation between body weight and the use of the hanging maneuver among tits. This study suggests that closely related tits can coexist due to inter-specific differences in their foraging niche and because foraging locations change as the season advances.