Adult sparrows and finches eat seeds, but nestlings are fed mostly insects. Is this statement true?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only in captivity
• D. Depends on species

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that growing nestlings need a lot of protein to build tissues, feathers, and organs, and insects provide that protein-rich nutrition much more readily than seeds. Adult sparrows and finches rely on seeds for energy and calories, but for their young, protein is the priority, and insects (and other invertebrates) are what parents deliver to support rapid growth. That’s why the statement is true: nestlings are fed mostly insects, not seeds.

In practice, this is why wildlife rehab protocols and field observations emphasize offering high-protein foods or insect-based formula to nestlings, rather than seed-heavy diets. Some species or individual pairs might show a bit of variation if insects are scarce, but the typical pattern for sparrows and finches is insect-dominant feeding of nestlings.