Lb. Best et Jp. Gionfriddo, EFFECTS OF SURFACE TEXTURE AND SHAPE ON GRIT SELECTION BY HOUSE-SPARROWS AND NORTHERN BOBWHITE, The Wilson bulletin, 106(4), 1994, pp. 689-695
We evaluated the influence of surface texture and shape on grit select
ion by House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) and Northern Bobwhite (Colin
us virginianus). Captive birds were given a mixture of two grit types
(angular/oblong and rounded/spherical) for seven or 14 days. At the en
d of this period, most birds (24 of 30 House Sparrows and 21 of 26 Nor
thern Bobwhite) had more angular/oblong and less rounded/spherical gri
t (P < 0.01) in their gizzards than predicted on the basis of availabi
lity. An improved understanding of avian responses to surface texture,
shape, and other grit characteristics may be useful in reformulating
granular pesticides to reduce their attractiveness to birds.