Spotted Greenshank Tringa guttifer Feeding on an Intertidal Flat in Korea

Abstract

Foraging behaviour of two individuals of the endangered Spotted Greenshank Tringa guttifer was studied for 1.5h. The birds foraged actively on an extensive intertidal mudflat during the autumn migration. Although keeping mutual distances of 5-20m, rarely more, the birds obviously stayed together all the time. Prey taken were crabs Macrophthalmus japonicus of an estimated carapace width of 15-20mm. Most crabs retreated in the mud as soon a bird approached, but probing for crabs was not observed. The birds located their prey by eye and captured them via runs or flights. On average 1.2 crabs were taken per 5min, representing 0.53g ADW, giving a consumption of 0.13g ADW per minute of active foraging.