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African birds as army ant followers

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Abstract

Ant-following birds have been studied extensively in the Neotropics, but much less information is currently available for the Afrotropics. There are published records of 168 African bird species from 37 families foraging in association with driver ants (Dorylus, sub-family Dorylinae). However, of 52 bird species assessed as regular ant-followers, 38 belong to three families, which are disproportionately represented compared to other large Afrotropical bird families: Muscicapidae (18 spp.), Pycnonotidae (13 spp.) and Turdidae (7 spp.). The extent to which these birds are dependent on ants through their annual cycle is not known. African driver ants forage primarily under shaded, humid conditions by day, and may spend a month or longer underground. Conservation assessments of African forest habitats suggest that both driver ants and ant-following birds may be especially sensitive to the loss of forest cover.

Zusammenfassung

Afrikanische Vögel als Folger von Wanderameisen: eine Übersicht

Vögel, die sich Wanderameisen anschliessen, wurden schon vielfach in der neotropischen Region erforscht, jedoch gibt es derzeit nur wenige Daten für die afrotropische Region. In der Literatur finden sich. Beobachtungen von 168 afrikanischen Vogelarten, die Ameisenschwärmen (Gattung Dorylus, Unterfamilie Dorylinae) folgen. Von den 52 Arten, die regelmäβig Wanderameisen folgen, gehören 38 Arten zu nur drei Vogelfamilien, die im Vergleich zu anderen artenreichen afrikanischen Vogelfamilien unverhältnismäβig häufig vertreten sind: Muscicapidae (18 Arten), Pycnonotidae (13 Arten) und Turdidae (7 Arten). In welchem Unfang diese Vögel im Jahresverlauf von den Ameisen abhängig sind, ist unbekannt. Afrikanische Wanderameisen jagen oberirdisch tagsüber meist nur im Schatten mit höherer Luftfeuchte und leben gelegentlich monatelang unterirdisch. Eine naturschutzfachliche Bewertung afrikanischer Waldgebiete deutet darauf hin, dass Wanderameisen wie die sie begleitenden Vogelarten besonders empfindlich gegenüber verminderter Waldbedeckung sind.

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Acknowledgements

In a time of limited direct access to libraries, I am especially grateful to Janine Dunlop in the Niven Library at the FitzPatrick Institute, University of Cape Town, and Derek Engelbrecht, University of Limpopo, Polokwane, for providing electronic copies of many publications. Philippe Clergeau, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, and Helen James, Albany Museum, Makhanda also provided copies of important items. Martin Villet and Richard Dean commented on the draft manuscript, and alerted me to additional references; three anonymous referees provided useful comments which improved the presentation. My research has been supported by a grant from Rhodes University.

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    Adrian J. F. K. Craig

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Craig, A.J.F.K. African birds as army ant followers. J Ornithol 163, 623–631 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-022-01987-0

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