Bob M. wondered -

> This made me wonder why a hawk would eat grasshoppers. It would seem to
> be adaptered for more hawk-like foraging activities. Or is this just what
> it eats while down south? Or do all hawks eat big bugs whenever they're
> easy to catch? Thanks in advance.

1) Buteos are opportunistic carnivores and will eat anything they can catch.
2) Grasshoppers are abundant on the areas of the Pampas where Swainson's
Hawks winter.
1) + 2) = 3) Swainson's eat grasshoppers on their wintering grounds.

Many birds eat grasshoppers if they can find them. Among the families I have
seen eating them: falconids, shorebirds, larids, flycatchers, corvids,
turdids, etc., etc. The fact that they are high in protein also means they
are a good form of sustenance. Bonus.

- Jack



Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca