Comparison of feeding behavior between coexisting tit species: the Varied Tit Parus varius and the Great Tit P. major

Abstract

To study the food size preferences of Great Parus major and Varied tits P. varius we provided three sizes of sunflower seeds at a feeder at the forest edge on Mt Aburayama, Fukuoka, southern Japan. The Varied Tits preferred larger seeds than the Great Tits, and selected the size of seed that gave them greater feeding efficiency. The Great Tits carried larger seeds away from the feeder, whereas they ate smaller seeds immediately at the feeder. The Varied Tits always selected larger seeds at the feeder. It is suggested that the larger bill of the Varied Tit may affect this species difference in food size selection. Key words: Foraging, Great Tit, Seed preference, Sympatry, Varied Tit.