Novel food use by Grey Kingbirds and Red-necked Pigeons in Barbados

Abstract

The frequency with which birds adopt feeding innovations may be a good operational measure of behavioural flexibility, but its usefulness depends upon accurate recording of novel behaviour patterns and new food sources. We describe here two instances of feeding innovations in birds of Barbados: consumption of maize spillage at a harbour warehouse by Red-necked Pigeons Columba squamosa and "bread-hunting" by Grey Kingbirds Tyrannus dominicensis.