Have you noticed that some birds stay at your feeder to eat, while others grab seed and fly away? Often larger-billed birds remain at the feeder to eat, but birds like black-capped chickadees have relatively small bills, and they need to work the seed to get the meat out. Watch the birds at your feeder. Which one stay and which ones go? [Discover more at AllAboutBirds.org]
End of transcriptWhy Chickadees Grab Seeds and Go: Feeder Bird Strategies
Recorded from inside a bird feeder, this video gives you front row seat to feeder behavior. When you watch chickadees at your feeder you might notice that they typically grab a seed and fly to a nearby perch to enjoy it. Other birds like finches and jays tend to stay and eat. Chickadees have relatively small beaks and need to grip the seed with their feet while working the meat out of the hull. Larger billed birds can work the hull off without the help of their feet. Next time you watch birds come and go from your feeder, notice the shape of their beak and see if you can predict their feeding strategy.
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