Seasonal Variation in the Diet of Migratory Shorebirds Wintering in the Bijagós Archipelago, Guinea-Bissau

Migratory shorebirds wintering in the Bijagós Archipelago exhibit significant seasonal shifts in diet, with smaller species increasing polychaete consumption and larger ones favoring bivalves during the critical fuelling period. This dietary flexibility, marked by low overlap between periods, suggests adaptations to prey availability or selection pressures. The study reconstructed diets for eight shorebird species across three non-breeding phases—arrival, mid-winter, and fuelling—revealing distinct trophic strategies that may underpin their survival in this UNESCO-listed coastal ecosystem.

Coelho, A. P., Lopes, P., Rocha, A. D., Barros, A. R. d., Piersma, T., & Alves, J. A. (2024). Seasonal Variation in the Diet of Migratory Shorebirds Wintering in the Bijagós Archipelago, Guinea-Bissau. Ardea, 112(1). https://doi.org/10.5253/arde.2023.a17