Évolution de la sélectivité alimentaire chez la caille des blés captive en période estivale

Food choice of captive European Quail has been studied in the laboratory from May until October. We measured the time devoted by adult males and females to three types of food resources - seeds, green leaves and arthropods - and we quantified the dry weight of food ingested during several cycles of diurnal activity for the different food types. Green leaves never represented more than one third of the food pecked. The quantity of green leaves peaked at the beginning of the reproductive period, then declined rapidly, and reached a minimum, especially in laying females. This is very different from what is known in Partridges. There was a marked increase of arthropods (meal worms) in the diet of subjects of both sexes during reproduction. lt may be concluded that there is a direct adverse effect of pesticides on summer reproductive abilities in adult Coturnix Quail. Post nuptial moult induced a complete change in food choice. Seeds are the dominant item in the diet; a process which could also prepare the following autumn migration.