Saturday, June 29, 2013

Northern Cardinal Eating Caterpillar

Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis
Eating Caterpillar
29 June 2013

    Studies of the diet of the Northern Cardinal reveal that the food habits of cardinals change throughout the year. During the colder months, roughly from November through April, vegetable material comprises about 75% of all food eaten. During the warmer months, from May through October, animal material makes up a significant component of the diet of this species, peaking in July at about 65%. 
    This male was seen devouring a caterpillar on the fence in our yard this morning. It was a fearsome looking specimen and the cardinal banged it around quite a bit to subdue it before consuming it.





Marcadores:
David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

I'm a life long birder. My interests are birds, nature, reading, books, outdoors, travel, food and wine.

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