In colder zones during winter, what functions as the necessary fallback resource for the Uguisu?
Answer
Plant resources providing carbohydrates and fats to maintain body temperature
When the Uguisu remains in colder temperate zones for winter, the availability of the preferred insect food drops dramatically. To survive these lean periods, the bird must adopt an opportunistic feeding strategy, utilizing resources that provide necessary energy to maintain core body temperature. In areas where open ground foraging for insects is impossible due to frost or snow, plant resources, such as carbohydrates and fats derived from small berries, serve as this crucial fallback mechanism until the spring migration triggers the renewed search for high-protein prey.

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