What state of ripeness do these tanagers favor regarding available berries and soft fruit?
Answer
Ripe or even overripe
The dietary preferences of the Black-and-yellow Tanager lean toward softer food sources when acquiring carbohydrates. They actively seek out berries and other soft fruits that have reached peak maturity, specifically favoring those that are ripe or even overripe. This preference is aligned with their swallowing strategy; softer, overripe fruit requires minimal handling or processing time, allowing for the quickest possible conversion into usable energy, which is vital for sustaining their high activity levels between dedicated insect foraging bouts.
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