Abstract

ARCHUBY, Diego I. et al. Diet of the Black-chinned Siskin (Carduelis barbata) during autumn. Hornero [online]. 2007, vol.22, n.1, pp.65-68. ISSN 0073-3407.

The contents of 28 stomachs of the Black-chinned Siskin (Carduelis barbata) were analyzed from an autumn collection from the north of Patagonia. All stomachs contained food. The mean mass was 0.209 g. Eleven items (seven vegetal and four animal) were identified in the samples. The plant fraction was predominant (85.8% in weight) and corresponded to the families Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Chenopodiaceae and Solanaceae. Camelina microcarpa and Sisymbrium sp. were the more abundant seeds. The animal fraction was represented only by insects (14.2%) in the orders Diptera (larvae) and Homoptera (families Psyllidae and Aphididae). Aphididae was represented by Pterocomma populeum in many samples. Gastroliths were present in all samples, with a mean mass of 0.093 g. The high proportion of insects in the diet of the Black-chinned Siskin is striking considering that it belongs to a family of seed-eaters.

Keywords : Black-chinned Siskin; Carduelis barbata; diet; Patagonia.

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