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Avian Research 2021, 12(1): 56 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-021-00292-3
Research | Open Access | Issue | Published: 29 October 2021

The composition of mixed-species flocks of birds in and around Chitwan National Park, Nepal

Show Author's Information Kamal Raj Gosai1,2,  Eben Goodale1
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
Department of Environmental Science, Tri-Chandra Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Ghantaghar, Kathmandu, 44600, Nepal
Keywords:
Bird community ecology, Dicruridae, Keystone species, Mixed-species flocks, Species interactions
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Gosai KR, Goodale E. The composition of mixed-species flocks of birds in and around Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Avian Research, 2021, 12(1): 56. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-021-00292-3
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Abstract Full text About this article
Background

Mixed-species flocks (MSFs) have been well sampled in the South Asia, but there has been as yet surprisingly little work on MSFs of Nepal, despite a diverse and well-studied avifauna. We surveyed MSFs in two forest types in and around the Important Bird Area of Chitwan National Park in Nepal, between 150 and 800 m a.s.l., to provide a first description of the composition of MSFs in this area. We also aimed to understand which species should be considered 'nuclear species', important to forming MSFs or leading them forward.

Results

In total, we collected records on 222 MSFs that included 100 species, and 6097 individuals. The MSFs were similar to worldwide patterns in being dominated by leaf-gleaning, non-terrestrial insectivores. However, the MSFs were more dominated by canopy species than usual, and did not have a clear gregarious, understory leading species. Rather drongos (Family Dicruridae) and minivets (Family Campephagidae, Genus Pericrocotus) acted as leaders, and a cluster analysis of composition showed one group of large body size MSFs particularly characterized by the presence of the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus).

Conclusions

Drongos are known to provide both costs and benefits to other flock participants: they are aggressive birds that can steal food, and manipulate other species with their vocalizations, but at the same time they are 'sentinel species' that produce information about predation risk other species can use. This study demonstrates that drongos can be considered nuclear species for some types of MSFs, despite the potential costs of their presence. MSFs led by sentinel species thus may form in Asia, as well as in the Neotropics.


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About this article

The composition of mixed-species flocks of birds in and around Chitwan National Park, Nepal

Show Author's information Kamal Raj Gosai1,2, Eben Goodale1
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
Department of Environmental Science, Tri-Chandra Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Ghantaghar, Kathmandu, 44600, Nepal

Abstract

Background

Mixed-species flocks (MSFs) have been well sampled in the South Asia, but there has been as yet surprisingly little work on MSFs of Nepal, despite a diverse and well-studied avifauna. We surveyed MSFs in two forest types in and around the Important Bird Area of Chitwan National Park in Nepal, between 150 and 800 m a.s.l., to provide a first description of the composition of MSFs in this area. We also aimed to understand which species should be considered 'nuclear species', important to forming MSFs or leading them forward.

Results

In total, we collected records on 222 MSFs that included 100 species, and 6097 individuals. The MSFs were similar to worldwide patterns in being dominated by leaf-gleaning, non-terrestrial insectivores. However, the MSFs were more dominated by canopy species than usual, and did not have a clear gregarious, understory leading species. Rather drongos (Family Dicruridae) and minivets (Family Campephagidae, Genus Pericrocotus) acted as leaders, and a cluster analysis of composition showed one group of large body size MSFs particularly characterized by the presence of the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus).

Conclusions

Drongos are known to provide both costs and benefits to other flock participants: they are aggressive birds that can steal food, and manipulate other species with their vocalizations, but at the same time they are 'sentinel species' that produce information about predation risk other species can use. This study demonstrates that drongos can be considered nuclear species for some types of MSFs, despite the potential costs of their presence. MSFs led by sentinel species thus may form in Asia, as well as in the Neotropics.

Keywords: Bird community ecology, Dicruridae, Keystone species, Mixed-species flocks, Species interactions

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Publication history
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Publication history

Received: 24 May 2021
Accepted: 20 October 2021
Published: 29 October 2021
Issue date: January 2021

Copyright

© The Author(s) 2021.

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

We thank Tikaram Giri for providing insight on the birds of Chitwan National Park and providing warm hospitality in his hotel. We thank Bishnu Mahato, Pushan Mahato, Anish Mahato and Yam Mahato for their assistance in the field, Asst. Prof. Ramesh Sapkota for his support in statistical analysis and Mrs. Neeru Maharjan Gosai for providing moral support to the first author during the entire research period. We also thank Tej Kumar Shrestha, Lumbini Environmental Services Pvt. Ltd., Nepal for providing a working space during the write-up of the manuscript. Three anonymous reviewers provided helpful comments that improved the manuscript.

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