The Feeding Habits of Four Raptors in Central Italy

Le résumé fourni par la source

The crop and gizzard contents of 84 Common Kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) and 49 Common Buzzards (Buteo buteo), as well as the gizzard contents of 113 Little Owls (Athene noctua) and 70 Barn Owls (Tyro alba) were examined in the district of Siena in Central Italy. Collections were made over three years during the shooting seasons. For all species except the Barn Owl, and in contrast to their diets in European countries further north, insects (instead of birds and small mammals) become the staple food during the colder seasons. This may be due to the high availability of arthropods in the Mediter- ranean area during autumn and winter.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.