Daily Behavior of Tachybaptus ruficollis in Spring

Abstract

We studied the behavior of Tachybaptus ruficollis in Qionghai wetland,Sichuan Province from March to May 2015.We used focal animal sampling and instantaneous scanning methods.We defined the behavior ethogram of Tachybaptus ruficollis.The main recorded behaviors of Tachybaptus ruficollis were foraging,preening,swimming,diving,flying,alert,vocalizing,playing,fighting,epimeletic behavior,and resting.The time spent by Tachybaptus ruficollis in different behaviors decreased in the order of swimming(24.3%),alert(15%),combing(12%),singing(9.9%),foraging(9.8%)and resting(6.5%).Foraging behavior peaked at dawn and dusk.The rhythms of alert and resting behaviors were similar.Diving behavior had no obvious rhythms.All activity was significantly lower on rainy compared to sunny days.\n