During a falling tide, which whimbrel group probes the lower, wetter zones where the deepest prey resides?

Answer

Those with slightly longer bills

Observing shorebird flocks on a rapidly falling tide reveals a subtle, non-random spatial distribution directly related to bill morphology, which creates differentiated foraging niches within the same local area. The birds possessing slightly longer bills have a distinct advantage in the lower, wetter zones of the tidal flat. These lower zones contain the softest sediments where the most calorie-rich, deepest-buried prey, such as certain crustaceans, reside. Conversely, individuals with bills that are slightly shorter or less curved for deep probing tend to remain higher up, foraging on the wrack line or feeding on prey that is more exposed on the surface, thereby reducing direct competition among kin based on slight morphological differences.

During a falling tide, which whimbrel group probes the lower, wetter zones where the deepest prey resides?

Related Questions

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