White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) predation on grassland songbird nestlings

American Midland Naturalist
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Abstract

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were videotaped depredating four songbird nests in grassland habitats in southeastern and northcentral North Dakota, 1996-1999. Deer ate two Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis), two grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum), one clay-colored sparrow (Spizella pallida), one red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) and three brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) nestlings. Deer removed nestlings quickly (5-19 sec/nest) at night (22:00 to 05:17 Central Daylight Time) and left no evidence of predation. Although probably opportunistic, deer predations clearly were deliberate and likely are more common than generally believed.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) predation on grassland songbird nestlings
Series title American Midland Naturalist
DOI 10.1674/0003-0031(2000)144[0419:WTDOVP]2.0.CO;2
Volume 144
Year Published 2000
Language English
Publisher University of Notre Dame
Contributing office(s) Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Description 4 p.
First page 419
Last page 422
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