Diet of Swifts (Apodidae) and Swallows (Hirundinidae) During the Breeding Season in South African Grassland

Abstract

The diet of the black-headed heron was studied using analysis of pellets and prey remnants (225 prey items identified) collected fromfour sites in South African HighveldGrassland, transformed into cultivated fields. Small vertebrates comprised the staple food of chicks. Rodents were the most important vertebrate prey. Otomys irroratus comprised ca. 50% of the total biomass of vertebrate prey consumed. The diet was supplemented by small lizards, snakes, frogs and fishes. Grasshoppers, beetles, crabs and other arthropods were occasionally preyed upon.