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Differential Niche Utilization in a Grassland Sparrow
Author(s) -
Robins Jerome D.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1933814
Subject(s) - foraging , forage , sparrow , ecology , nest (protein structural motif) , niche , biology , grassland , predation , sexual dimorphism , zoology , biochemistry
Henslow's Sparrow (Ammospiza henslowii) is a secondary sexually monomorphic breeding bird in meadows, hayfields, prairies, grasslands, and some croplands in eastern North America. Foraging behavior during the nestling period involved no intersexual differences in prey selection, and both sexes were opportunistic in food choice. Sexual spatial partitioning of the feeding niche was accomplished by adults foraging in different directions and at different distances from the nests. Males, which defend the territories alone, forage at greater distances from the nest than females. Females forage closer to the nest and in different areas than males, which enhances survival of young because females do most of the feeding and all brooding of young.