Abstract
Paridae are among the bird families benefiting from food storing. However, not all its members hoard food.
Our objective was to clarify the role of ecological factors in occurrence of food storing. We reviewed the data on major ecological characteristics of the Paridae species and analysed their association with the presence/absence of food storing.
Our statistical model revealed that geography (distribution in North America) and taxonomy (genus Poecile) are better predictors of food storing than any of the studied ecological traits. Nevertheless, food-storing Poecile species inhabit mixed or coniferous woodlands with seasonal richness of food, while non-storing species tend to prefer edge and open habitats, where alternative food sources are available.
Sociality and territoriality outside breeding season coincides with food storing.