Insectivorous Bird Eats Anole!

Dominican House Wren (Troglodytes aedon rufescens) holding a juvenile Puerto Rican crested anole (Anolis cristatellus). Photo by M.P. van den Burg.

New literature alert!

Predation on the nonnative Puerto Rican crested anole (Anolis cristatellus) by the Dominican House Wren (Troglodytes aedon rufescens) on the Commonwealth of Dominica

In The Wilson Journal of Ornithology

van den Burg & Brisbane

 

Abstract

Predation on vertebrate species by insect-eating birds is rarely recorded, with only one report for the House Wren (Troglodytes aedon). On 4 January 2019, we observed a Dominican House Wren (T. a. rufescens) consume a juvenile of the nonnative Puerto Rican crested anole (Anolis cristatellus) in Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica. This observation suggests the Dominican House Wren could additionally prey on the endemic Dominican anole (Anolis oculatus). This record aids our understanding of the ecosystem-wide impact of the A. cristatellus invasion.

Read the full article here, available as First Cite.

Matthijs van den Burg

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1 Comment

  1. Sam Gonzalez

    In Central Florida I’ve observed Carolina Wrens continually feed their nestlings brown and green anole hatchlings up until they fledged.

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