Provisioning Behavior of Male and Female Grasshopper Sparrows

We examined the provisioning behavior of male and female Grasshopper Sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum) during 2002 and 2003 by videotaping nests (n = 15) and subsequently reviewing tapes to quantify provisioning rates and identify prey items. There was no difference in provisioning rates of male and female Grasshopper Sparrows (P = 0.13) with mean rates of 2.16 visits/hr for females and 1.86 visits/hr for males. Provisioning rates for males and females combined varied with nestling age (P = 0.01) with rates lower for 1–4-day-old nestlings, increasing through day 6 and then declining for 7–10-day-old nestlings. Provisioning rates varied with brood size (P = 0.026) with rates higher for broods of five than broods of three or four. Most prey items delivered to nestlings were grasshoppers (Orthoptera, 68.1%).