Long-term observations of the diet of the Malleefowl Leipoa ocellata near the Little Desert, Western Victoria.

Abstract

The diet of Malleefowl Leipoa ocellata living in the Little Desert area of western Victoria was studied by close observations of several habituated free-ranging birds over a period of 26 years (1980-2005). A total of 19 flowering plants, four fungi and seven invertebrate taxa was detected being consumed; 16 of the plants (including three wattle, one mallee and three heath species), Paxillus fungus and hepialid moths had not been reported in previous studies. When compared with other studies, these observations confirm that the diet of the Malleefowl is markedly locality-specific.