Rick,

I've never seen a phoebe eat fruit, but Cornell's BNA says that ~10% of
their diet is vegetable matter. 

Fledglings do explore unusual food items: all their behaviors are more
flexible at this time. 

This morning I watched a young mockingbird eating Blue Sage flowers. The
young garden phoebe seems to have learned that hummingbirds are not edible
and was pecking at seeds.

Felicia Lovelett
Sykesville, MD


-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Rick Sussman
Sent: Sunday, July 19, 2009 10:07 AM
To: 
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Baby Phoebes

Hi Felicia,
 Since you seem to have so many Phoebe's around I was wondering if  you've
(ever) seen one eat fruit? I watched what I am almost certain was a young
Phoebe (it was partially hidden by the fence it was perched on) sallying
into  one of our thornless blackberries and taking bits of berries, then
returning to  eat it on the fence. I've never seen a Phoebe eat fruit, so
was wondering if it  was normal behavior...
 
Rick Sussman
Woodbine,MD