What is the dual purpose of the constant, quick flickering or jerking of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet's wings during foraging?
Answer
To maintain balance during maneuvers and potentially flush out hidden insects
The wing flickering serves the dual function of helping the bird maintain balance during its erratic movements and possibly disturbing sedentary insects into revealing themselves.
Related Questions
What food source overwhelmingly dominates the Ruby-crowned Kinglet's diet for the vast majority of the year?Which specific minute creatures have been cataloged as part of the Kinglet's typical diet?What specialized foraging technique involves hovering near foliage to pick off prey directly from the surface?When insect availability declines during migratory periods or winter, what primary substitute food source do Kinglets utilize?What is the dual purpose of the constant, quick flickering or jerking of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet's wings during foraging?Why are Ruby-crowned Kinglets generally not regular visitors to standard bird feeders stocked with large seeds?What supplemental food, mimicking high-energy insect matter, might occasionally attract a Kinglet to a feeder?How does the Kinglet's mass-specific metabolic rate compare to that of other birds?Where do Kinglets frequently inspect for small arthropods seeking shelter?What characteristic behavior emphasizes the high-energy demands required to fuel the Kinglet's tiny body?In which layers of vegetation are Ruby-crowned Kinglets observed executing their darting feeding movements?