Why might a kinglet choose a brief stop at a suet feeder over an hour of natural foraging in harsh conditions?

Answer

The energy expended searching for scarce natural prey might exceed the energy gained

If the energy cost of searching for insects in cold, windy conditions is too high relative to the reward, a quick stop at a high-calorie suet feeder yields a significant net energy gain.

Why might a kinglet choose a brief stop at a suet feeder over an hour of natural foraging in harsh conditions?

#Videos

Ruby- crowned Kinglet eating suet on 01.16.24 - YouTube

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