Shrub-Dwelling Birds in the Sahel Forage Less Often on the Ground in Grazed Areas

Shrub-dwelling birds may resort to ground-foraging in the Sahel when opportunities are favourable. Several arboreal and semi-arboreal passerines, both African European, were frequently recorded foraging on ground, but not heavily grazed areas. Grazed, dry savannah probably has fewer insects which is often devoid of vegetation season. foraged more ground eastern Sahel, where grazing pressure lower. In increased fourfold since 1960s, presumably reducing for bird species facultatively forage ground. Due pressure, Common Whitethroats Curruca communis other shrub-dwelling passerines have lost a specific niche within their habitat. This compounded greater losses associated with declines woody during drought years late 1960s.