sseminole7's Identifications

normally uncommon, this species became so common and widespread in 2008 (a year after the record rains/flooding of 2007) that it was the go-to prey item for local Black-capped Vireos feeding nestlings that year. It took a month of observations to determine with certainty the identity of the red abdominal segments in the bills of birds (conspicuous at 50 yards) belonged to this species. This was a one-time seasonal event. Normally May-June nestlings are fed Lepidotera giving over to orthopterans late June-July. Still could be found regularly in small numbers in 2009, but subsequently have been very scarce in the face of record drought.