Seed-eating Birds Survive In The Desert

52years ago A study conducted at the Transvaal Museum investigated the water economy of seedeating birds, and the remarkable ability of certain finches to live in the desert without water for long periods of time.

- 

The species are the scaly-feathered finch (Sporopipes squamifrons) and the red-headed finch (Amadina erythrocephala); these are not the types known as pests to farmers. They are found mostly in the arid western regions of South Africa, such as the Kalahari Desert, and in the Namib Desert in South West Africa [Namibia]. Both species can tolerate dehydration for three months, living on dry manna seed and millet that has a moisture content of about 5%. Insect-eating birds require little water; they get enough moisture from their food. But it is incredible for seed eaters to survive for so long without water.