In the animal world, a nuptial gift is a nutritional gift given by one partner in their sexual reproduction practices. Nuptial gifting is at the intersection of sexual selection, nutritional ecology, and life history. Many species of animals, including birds, insects, and spiders, practice this food transfer from a male to a female just prior to copulation.
I witnessed a Warbling Vireo pair engaging in prenuptial feeding recently along the rail trail in Lebanon. Unfortunately, they did not do it out in the open where I could get a good look and nice clean photos of both partners. But I was able to snuggle my lens between branches and leaves and capture some of this tender moment.
A dozen years ago, I witnessed a similar event in light rain between a pair of Cedar Waxwings at the Bear Pond Natural Area, a UVLT site in Canaan, NH. This is a great place to see Canada Warblers. I have been there numerous times solo and with Len Reitsma, who has studied them there for many years.
More recently, after checking out a Great Blue Heron nest, I visited Sue and Bob’s woods to photograph birds. The woods were fairly dark, but I managed to get some photos. Shortly after arriving, I witnessed the passing of a nuptial gift from a male to female Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
