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Foraging Patterns on Lawns by American Robins
Abstract.- I observed American Robins (Turdus migratorius), n~100, foraging for worms on the lawns of West Cedar
Beach Park in Allentown, PA, USA, 1992-1993. Birds tended to forage straighter, and in shorter bouts, after a successful encounter
with prey (Median Test, N=1, x2= 0.1, p= 0.05, df=1), as opposed to above and below 180 degrees (median= 140 degrees) on a
protractor (N=1, x2=4.11, p=0.05, df=3.8). Angles measured /x= 134, SE+/- 13, and cv= 39%. They often foraged with Eurasian
Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) and purple race Common Grackles (Quiscalus quiscula quiscula), the latter which kleptoparasitized
them, on moist spring and fall short grass lawns. Such guilds contained American Crows (Corvus brachyrynchos) as
well if the lawns were expansive. All of these species are classes as omnivores. Birds were relentless in drought conditions
and did find worms. Probing on a sample plot near a nest increased during the nestling and fledgling stages during two broods
during May and June. One robin was seen eating white proso millet. The birds seem to use geometrical foraging for prey
optimization. Suburban habitat patches may require optimal foraging, where the bird is an opportunist when prey is scarce,
but does the opposite and awaits the choiciest morsals when the patch is flooded by prey. Moving in flocks, the Information
Center Hypothesis makes most sense according to my observations because once a patch because used up, usually the fock moved
together to another patch, possibly following initial explorers. Robins and other passerines may forage man-made lawns because
morphologically their legs and feet are too small to forage in fields.
Additional Reading
Eiserer, L.A. 1980. Effects of grasslength and mowing on foraging behavior of the American Robin (Turdus migratorius).
Auk 97: 576-580.
Pinkowski, B.C. 1977. Foraging behavior of the Eastern Bluebird. Wilson Bulletin 89(3): 404-414.
Smith, J.N.M. 1973. The food searching behavior of two European thrushes. 1. description and analysis of search paths.
Behavior 48: 276-302.
Willson, M.F. 1994. Fruit choices by captive American Robins. Condor 96(2): 494-502.
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