The diet of the Wrybill (Anarhynchus frontalis) and the Banded Dotterel (Charadrius bicinctus) on two braided rivers in Canterbury, New Zealand

Abstract

The diet of the Wrybill (Anarhynchus frontalis) and the Banded Dotterel (Charadrius bicinctus) was investigated on two New Zealand braided riverbeds using faecal analysis. There was high overlap in terms of taxonomic composition between the two species' diets, but large variability between individuals. Foods of aquatic and terrestrial (but near-aquatic) origin were consumed; mostly adult beetles (Coleoptera), bugs (Hemiptera) and flies (Diptera). Availability of these prey species relies on a suitable river flow regime.