Jp. Gionfriddo et Lb. Best, GRIT-USE PATTERNS IN NORTH-AMERICAN BIRDS - THE INFLUENCE OF DIET, BODY-SIZE, AND GENDER, The Wilson bulletin, 108(4), 1996, pp. 685-696
We investigated avian grit use by examining the gizzard contents of 14
40 birds collected from 12 states. Grit was present in gizzards of 62
of 90 species and Varied greatly in number and mean particle size. Giz
zards of granivorous birds contained more grit particles than those of
insectivores, omnivores, and frugivores. Grit particle characteristic
s (mean size, shape, and surface texture) did not differ among birds c
onsuming different diets. Mean grit size increased linearly with the c
ommon logarithm of the bird body mass. Within avian species, grit-use
patterns did not differ by gender. Grit use is widespread among birds,
and diet strongly influences the amount of grit used by birds.