Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) Science Article 12
abstract
The feeding by adult Yellow Warblers (Dendroicap etechia) of nestlings in broods of 3, 4, or 5 young was studied during two breeding seasons on the forested dune ridge near Delta, Manitoba. Broods of 2-day-old young were selectively fed geometrid larvae by the adults, and broods of 8-day-old young were selectively fed chironomids and geometrid and other Lepidoptera larvae. The diet varied among broods of 3, 4, and 5 young at both ages, but this variation did not appear to affect the growth rates of the young. The total weight of items brought per half hour increased with brood size among broods of 2-day-old young. Broods of four 8-day-old young were fed the greatest amount of food. The diet of the nestlings is contrasted with the diet of adult Yellow Warblers observed in thesame locality.
GLORIA C. BIERMANN AND SPENCER G. SEALY, The Auk 99: 332-341 April 1982