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Home ยป Differences in Taste Preference between Red-Winged Blackbirds and European Starlings
Differences in Taste Preference between Red-Winged Blackbirds and European Starlings
Publication Type: | Journal Article |
Year of Publication: | 1990 |
Authors: | Espaillat, JE, J. Mason, R |
Journal: | The Wilson Bulletin |
Volume: | 102 |
Issue: | 2 |
Date Published: | 1990 |
ISBN Number: | 00435643 |
Keywords: | Agelaius, Agelaius phoeniceus, Icteridae, Sturnidae, Sturnus, Sturnus vulgaris, Turdidae, Turdus, Turdus iliacus, Turdus maximus, Turdus merula |
Abstract: | Consumption of biologically relevant taste stimuli (NaCl, D-fructose, citric acid, tannic acid, L-alanine) by male and female European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) and male Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) were examined in one-bottle tests. Male starlings showed greater avidity for fructose than females, and both males and females exhibited greater avidity for fructose than male Red-winged Blackbirds. In addition, male starlings consumed more citric acid than either female starlings or male Red-winged Blackbirds. For both species, high consumption of NaCl (relative to consumption of other tastes) and low consumption of tannic acid were consistent with data reported for other birds. High consumption of L-alanine by both species (with highest consumption exhibited by male Starlings) suggests sensitivity to and preference for free amino acids. We speculate that one mechanism for inter- and intra-specific differences in food selection under field conditions may be differences in taste sensitivity. |
URL: | http://www.jstor.org/stable/4162866 |
Short Title: | The Wilson Bulletin |
Taxonomic name:
Sturnidae (Birds),
Sturnus (Birds),
Sturnus vulgaris (Birds),
Sturnus vulgaris (Birds),
Turdidae (Birds),
Turdus (Birds),
Turdus iliacus (Birds),
Turdus iliacus (Birds),
Turdus maximus (Birds),
Turdus merula (Birds),
Turdus Merula (Birds)
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical):
Ed Baker,
Katherine Bouton
Alice Heaton
Dimitris Koureas,
Laurence Livermore,
Dave Roberts,
Simon Rycroft,
Ben Scott,
Vince Smith