What minor component supplements the Yellowthroat diet when invertebrates are scarce?
Answer
A few seeds
Although the Common Yellowthroat is overwhelmingly focused on animal protein, their diet is not strictly carnivorous throughout the year or under all circumstances. When primary prey, such as active insects, becomes less productive due to adverse weather, habitat degradation, or during periods like migration, the bird will supplement its intake with other available resources. Evidence suggests they will consume a small quantity of seeds. This minor inclusion of plant matter likely functions as a crucial fallback or supplementary energy source, providing easily accessible carbohydrates necessary for survival when preferred invertebrate food sources are difficult to locate or capture.
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