Relationships of
Vertebrate Animals
to this Plant:
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Comptonia peregrina (Sweetfern) [Myricaceae]
(observations are from Martin et al., DeGraaf, and Buech)
Birds
Columbidae: Zenaida macroura (Mourning Dove) [feeds on nutlets] DGr2002; Parulidae: Setophaga kirtlandii (Kirtland's Warbler) [this shrub provided protective cover & it was located within 1 meter of the nest sites 50% of the time in Michigan] Bch1980; Phasianidae: Bonasa umbellus (Ruffed Grouse) [feeds on buds & catkins] DGr2002; Picidae: Colaptes auratus (Northern Flicker) [feeds on nutlets] DGr2002
Mammals
Cervidae: Odocoileus virginianus (White-tailed Deer) [foliage & twigs comprise 5-10% of the diet in Maine & Pennsylvania during fall & winter & spring, woody branches comprise 0.5-2% of the diet in New York & Wisconsin & Minnesota during winter] MZN1951