Bill-vibrating: A Prey-attracting Behavior of the Snowy Egret, Leucophoyx thula
Kushlan JA. 1973. Bill-vibrating: A Prey-attracting Behavior of the Snowy Egret, Leucophoyx thula. The American Midland Naturalist. 89(2):509-512
The author describes a feeding technique seen in use by Snowy Egrets at Shark Valley, Everglades National Park. The birds rapidly open and close submerged bill-tips to attract prey. In southern Florida, this is primarily the mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis). The author experimented with a model, finding that of 6 minnow species, only the mosquito fish was attracted to the disturbance. The article discusses behavioral aspects of several feeding techniques.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Kushlan, James
- Units
- EVER
- Keywords
- Animal Behavior, Animal Studies, Feeding, Predation, Shark Valley Everglades National Park FL, Snowy Egret (Egretta thula), Western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)