Most songbird nestlings eat primarily an insect diet, no matter what they eat as an adult.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only when raised on insect-rich diet
• D. Depends on climate

Answer: (A)

Young songbird nestlings require a rapid, protein-rich diet to fuel fast growth and feather development. Insects and other arthropods provide concentrated protein and fats that seeds and fruits lack. Because nestlings’ bodies are geared for processing small, soft prey, parents commonly deliver insects to the brood to meet these growth needs, even in species whose adults mainly eat seeds or fruit. This pattern holds across many songbird families, with caterpillars, beetles, spiders, and similar invertebrates being typical fare for nestlings. While some minor variation exists and a bit of plant matter can appear in some cases, the dominant pattern is insect-based feeding for nestlings. Hence the statement is true.