Moult is associated with higher diversity of food items in the diet of Common Bulbuls (Pycnonotus barbatus) in Cameroon

Abstract

Moult is an essential part of birds' annual cycle, and requires sufficient intake of energy and nutrients, but we understand little about how such nutritional requirements are met by wild birds. Using faecal metabarcoding, we analysed the diet of moulting and non-moulting Common Bulbuls Pycnonotus barbatus, captured in Cameroon. We found that the diet of moulting birds was more diverse than that of non-moulting birds, with approximately 1.5 times more arthropod and plant taxa, plus evidence of dietary composition differences between groups. Our results provide novel insight of a likely strategy used by wild birds to fuel the essential self-maintenance task of moult.