What nutrient is essential for adult warblers supporting rapidly growing nestlings?
Answer
Protein
During the active breeding and nesting season, the nutritional demands placed upon adult warblers are extremely high because they must provision their young. Nestlings require rapid growth, a process fundamentally dependent on high levels of protein supplied through soft-bodied insects like caterpillars and aphids. This requirement dictates that adults maintain a strictly insectivorous diet during this phase, even if fruits become available, to ensure adequate protein intake for themselves and their developing offspring.
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