Motacilla cinerea is a species of small- and medium-sized songbird in the Family Motacillidae, which is widely distributed. In this study, we determined the complete mitochondrial genome of M. ...cinerea. The result showed that the total length of the mitogenome was 16 825 bp and contained two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes, and one control region. All the genes in M. cinerea were distributed on the H-strand, except for the ND6 subunit gene and eight tRNA genes which are encoded on the L-strand. The phylogenetic tree was reconstructed using Bayesian analysis methods, and containing two clades: Motacilla and Anthus. The first lineage is Motacilla including M. cinerea and other nine species. The genus Anthus makes up the second group, which containing 17 species.
This study showed from the analysis of 180 droppings of the Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea harvested during a period of one year from the Babors Mountains (Bejaia, Algeria) that insects formed the ...main part of the diet (85.9% of identified items). The other food categories included arachnids, crustaceans and gastropods. Among the insects, Coleoptera (beetles) was the main order consisting of 37.4% of identified items. The most frequently recorded family was Baetidae (Ephemeroptera; 9.8%). At the prey-taxa level, an unidentified Baetidae was the most frequently encountered and represented 9.7% of the diet. This species was present in the diet throughout the year. Prey taxa classified as aquatic were more frequently encountered (54.2%) compared with those considered terrestrial. This study showed that seasonal fluctuations in the diet of Grey Wagtail were very weak. Prey size ranged from 0.2 to 30.5 mm, with an average of 8.9 mm. Overall, this study showed that Grey wagtail fed on species of a wide variety of taxa, with little variation across the year.
Predation of vertebrates by Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) has rarely been documented and only in relation to fish and amphibians. Mallard foraging behavior was observed at a reservoir bordering ...Semenic-Caras Gorges National Park in southwest Romania. A group of Mallards comprising one adult female and 10 subadults was recorded hunting, killing and consuming hatching year passerine birds of two species, a Grey Wagtail (Motacillacinerea) and a Black Redstart (Phoenicuros ochruros). These are the first records of hunting of birds by wild Mallards. This extraordinary new behavior represents substantial diet expansion for this widespread and abundant duck species.
The distributions and abundances of Grey Wagtails Motacilla cinerea and White Wagtails M. alba were surveyed using a line transect census in central and south-eastern Hokkaido from late April to ...early July between 1976 and 2014. The transect was 2 km in length and 50 m in width. One thousand and nine transects were situated in 900 4.5 km-by-5 km quadrats. Grey Wagtails occurred in 321 transects (32%) and 300 quadrats (33%) mainly in mountainous areas, while White Wagtails were detected in 468 transects (46%) and 440 quadrats (49%) mainly in plains. The occurrence frequencies of Grey Wagtails were 9% in Siberian dwarf pine forests, 27% in ever-green coniferous forests (Aa), 58% in mixed forests (Ac), 53% in deciduous broad-leaved forests (Ad), 28% in larch plantations (Ag), 30% in agricultural land with woods (Cw), 10% in agricultural land (C) and 9% in residential areas (D). Those of White Wagtails were 0%, 13%, 4%, 7%, 4%, 63%, 87% and 89%, respectively. The occurrence frequencies of Grey Wagtails at less than 200 m above sea level (asl), 201-400 m asl, 601-800 m asl, 601-800 m asl and 801 m asl or above were 25%, 45%, 52%, 46% and 31%, respectively. Those of White Wagtails were 60%, 30%, 11%, 4% and 6%, respectively. The average numbers of Grey Wagtails per 2 km were 0.2 ± 0.6 in Aa, 0.7 ± 0.9 in Ac, 0.6 ± 0.9 in Ad, 0.2 ± 0.7 in Ag, 0.4 ± 0.8 in Cw, 0.1 ± 0.4 in C, 0.2 ± 0.6 in D. Those of White Wagtails were 0.1 ± 0.3, 0.1 ± 0.3, 0.1 ± 0.4, 0.04 ± 0.2, 0.8 ± 1.0, 1.5 ± 1.2 and 1.8 ± 1.2, respectively.
Five new species of the feather mite genus Passeroptes (Acariformes: Dermationidae) are recorded from birds of the order Passeriformes in China: P. lioparis sp. nov. from Chrysotus chrysotis (Blyth) ...(Paradoxornithidae); P. motacillae sp. nov. from Motacilla cinerea Tunstall (Motacillidae); P. cyanodermae sp. nov. from Cyanoderma ruficeps Blyth (Timaliidae); P. periparus sp. nov. from Periparus ater (Linnaeus) (Paridae); P. aegithalos sp. nov. from Aegithalos iouschistos bonvaloti (Oustalet) (Aegithalidae).
Riparian areas link aquatic and terrestrial habitats, supporting species-rich bird communities, which integrate both terrestrial and aquatic processes. For this reason, inclusion of riparian birds in ...stream bioassessment could add to the information currently provided by existing programs that monitor aquatic organisms. To assess if bird community metrics could indicate stream conditions, we sampled breeding birds in the riparian zone of 37 reaches in 5 streams draining watersheds representing a gradient of agricultural intensity in central Italy. As a more direct indicator of water quality, stream macroinvertebrates were also sampled for computation of the Italian Extended Biotic Index (IBE). An anthropogenic index was calculated within 1 km of sampled reaches based on satellite-derived land-use classifications. Predictive models of macroinvertebrate integrity based on land-use and avian metrics were compared using an information-theoretic approach (AIC). We also determined if stream quality related to the detection of riverine species. Apparent bird species diversity and richness peaked at intermediate levels of land-use modification, but increased with IBE values. Water quality did not relate to the detection of riverine species as a guild, but two species, the dipper Cinclus cinclus and the grey wagtail Motacilla cinerea, were only observed in reaches with the highest IBE values. Small-bodied insectivorous birds and arboreal species were detected more often in reaches with better water quality and in less modified landscapes. In contrast, larger and granivorous species were more common in disturbed reaches. According to the information-theoretic approach, the best model for predicting water quality included the anthropogenic index, bird species diversity, and an index summarizing the trophic structure of the bird community. We conclude that, in combination with landscape-level information, the diversity and trophic structure of riparian bird communities could serve as a rapid indicator of stream-dwelling macroinvertebrates and, therefore, degradation of in-stream biotic integrity.
Impacts of invasive alien plant species are threatening biodiversity worldwide and thus it is important to assess their effects on particular groups of organisms. However, such impacts were studied ...mostly in case of plant or invertebrate communities and our understanding the response of vertebrate species to plant invasions remains incomplete. To improve our knowledge in this respect, we studied bird communities in riparian vegetation along the rivers with different levels of Reynoutria spp. invasion in the Czech Republic. These findings will be interesting for basic ecology enhancing our knowledge of consequences of plant invasions, as well as for conservation practice. We surveyed understory bird species in 26 vegetation blocks along parts of three rivers running from the Beskydy Mountains in spring 2011. We used principal component analysis to assess vegetation structure of particular blocks and the first axis ordinated the blocks according to the degree of invasion by Reynoutria spp. Using generalized linear mixed-effects models we found that counts of Motacilla cinerea, Cinclus cinclus and Sylvia borin, as well as the total bird species richness, significantly decreased with increasing degree of Reynoutria spp. invasion, while Acrocephalus palustris showed the opposite pattern. These results suggest that Reynoutria spp. impacts negatively on the species strictly bond with river banks and habitats specialists, whereas habitat generalist species like Sylvia atricapilla were not affected. Preference of Acrocephalus palustris for Reynoutria spp. corroborates affinity of this species to large invasive herbs observed also in other studies. Our study showed that Reynoutria spp. invasion can reduce species richness of understory birds in riparian communities. Although the distribution of this plant species is still quite limited in central Europe, our results suggest that its more widespread occurrence could potentially threat some river bank bird species. Therefore, we urge for development of management actions that will act counter the Reynoutria spp. invasion.
The diet composition of the Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea of the Babor Range is followed by analysis of faecal samples (90 faeces) before and during the breeding season 2010. The Grey Wagtail's diet ...varies depending on the stage of the breeding cycle at the southern edge of their breeding area in North Africa (Bejaia). The diet consists predominantly of aquatic preys (51.79%), with Coleoptera being the most frequent constituent (n=331, 45.5%). During the pre-laying period (February–March), the diet was variable (91 prey-taxa and H’=3,36 bits) and preys of medium size (5 to 8mm) were most common. During the incubation period (April–May), preys were mainly aquatic (60%) and larger (20 to 32mm). At the end of the breeding season (June–July), there was a greater occurrence of terrestrial preys (31 aquatic versus 30 terrestrial taxa).
Le régime alimentaire de la Bergeronnette des ruisseaux Motacilla cinerea de la région de la Kabylie des Babors est étudié avant et durant la saison de nidification 2010 par l’analyse des échantillons de fientes (90 fientes). À la limite sud de son aire de nidification en Afrique du Nord (Bejaia), le régime alimentaire des Bergeronnettes des ruisseaux varie en fonction des périodes du cycle de nidification. Le menu trophique de l’espèce est basé sur les proies aquatiques (51,79 %). Parmi ces proies, les Coléoptères sont les plus consommés (331 individus : 45,52 %). Durant la période pré-positale (février–mars), le régime alimentaire de l’espèce est assez diversifié (91 taxons proies et H’=3,36 bits), les proies de taille moyenne (5 à 8mm) étant prédominantes. En période de couvaison, l’espèce capture principalement les proies aquatiques (60 %), en général de grande taille (20 à 32mm). En fin de saison de reproduction (nourrissage, juin–juillet), la stratégie alimentaire des Bergeronnettes évolue et change en exploitant le milieu terrestre (31 proies aquatiques contre 30 proies terrestres).
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