Besides ground-dwelling prey, which other flying insects are opportunistically noted in the Whinchat's diet?
Answer
Mayflies and caddis flies
Although the Whinchat heavily relies on general ground-level invertebrates, its feeding strategy is opportunistic, enabling it to capture prey encountered in the air near its foraging grounds. The text specifically mentions that certain aquatic-emergent insects are also taken, demonstrating this opportunistic aerial capture. Mayflies and caddis flies are cited as examples of these winged insects that the bird snatches while sallying, broadening the scope of its invertebrate consumption beyond strictly terrestrial or low-vegetation dwellers.
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