Which foraging action involves disturbing insects into flight before capturing them?
Answer
Shaking a branch lightly
The Western Tanager employs varied tactics to secure prey, including methods designed to elicit movement from stationary insects. One documented strategy is to shake a branch lightly; this vibration can provoke hidden insects into flight. Once the prey is airborne due to this disturbance, the tanager can then capture it using active pursuit techniques like sallying or hawking, thus maximizing the chances of securing prey that might otherwise remain hidden.
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