Besides terrestrial insects, what aggressive prey items do nesting Sabine’s Gulls target locally in the Arctic ecosystem?
Answer
Eggs and nestlings from other bird species, including waterfowl
While the Arctic summer diet leans heavily towards small invertebrates like insects, nesting adults of the Sabine's Gull exhibit opportunistic and sometimes aggressive predatory behavior to secure readily available local protein. This includes targeting the reproductive efforts of other local bird populations. Specifically, they are noted for taking eggs and nestlings from species such as waterfowl, Lapland Longspurs, and Black Turnstones. There is also a mention that they may consume the eggs or young of other Sabine's Gulls in rare instances.
Related Questions
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