The Yellow-Rumps have the longest digestive track of any of our warblers which is required in order to be able to digest seeds and extract energy from them. They also supplement the seeds with any early bugs and small worms they find. Since most of the insectivores haven't arrived back yet, there is less competition for what meat is around.
-----Original Message----- From: Minnesota Birds [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Holly Peirson Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 9:41 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [mou-net] yellow-rump at suet feeder--hennepin county These little guys (and gals) are omnivores, and generalists. That's why they are so common and can come earlier than many other migrants. They don't need to wait for the caterpillars and inch worms and other like food. I have had them eating suet in many of the colder springs. You may also find them eating last year's flower seeds just like a goldfinch or chickadee. That's why we see Tree Swallows earlier than other swallows, too. Holly Peirson SE Anoka Co. -----Original Message----- From: Minnesota Birds [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 8:30 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [mou-net] yellow-rump at suet feeder--hennepin county This is new for me! A yellow-rump was chased away from a hanging suet feeder by a nuthatch the first few times it tried to land. When the nuthatch left, the warbler returned and has come back several times since to pick at the suet. Jan Wicklund ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
