15 May, 2013

Angry Birds! Territorial aggression between sunbirds and carpenter bees in Tanzania


by Jeff Ollerton & Clive Nuttman
Male Eastern Olive Sunbird in its territory within a
patch of cucurbit flowers.
Photo by Anna Rausch


Many different types of animals show aggression to one another when defending territories and resources such as food or nesting sites. During field work in rainforest in the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania we observed male Eastern Olive Sunbirds defending their territories against large carpenter bees. These territories are centred on good quality nectar sources, in this case the flowers of a climbing member of the cucumber and squash family (Cucurbitaceae).
 


Read the whole summary in: English.
Read the scientific publication in JPE .