What dictates the drastic shifts in the proportion of diet categories?
Answer
The immediate surrounding ecosystem's most easily obtainable calories
Although fish, birds, mammals, and carrion are consistently part of the overall diet, the specific proportion consumed shifts dramatically based on location and season. The crucial factor determining these shifts is what constitutes the most readily available source of calories in the immediate environment. For example, an eagle pair near a salmon river will focus on fish during runs, whereas a pair in an inland area with dense rabbit populations will show a higher percentage of terrestrial predation year-round, showing true opportunistic feeding.
Related Questions
What defines the White-Tailed Eagle's dietary flexibility?Which specific fish species are listed as prey near coasts?Besides rabbits, what other small mammal is noted as prey for the eagle?When does the scavenging behavior of the White-Tailed Eagle generally become more pronounced?What is the estimated daily food requirement for an adult White-Tailed Eagle?How do the provisioning needs of a growing juvenile eagle differ from an adult?What dictates the drastic shifts in the proportion of diet categories?What evidence shows the White-Tailed Eagle's willingness to tackle large terrestrial prey?Under which condition do nesting seabirds become a significant dietary component for the eagles?What range of hunting methods must the White-Tailed Eagle employ?What specific carrion provides necessary sustenance in some Scottish regions during winter?