Diet composition during the breeding season of a population of Sparrowhawks (Accipiter nisus) in central Catalonia (NE Spain)

Full article

Published:

Volume 38(2), December 1991. Pages 289-296.

Language:

Spanish

Original title:

Contribución al conocimiento de la dieta del Gavilán Accipiter nisus en la comarca de la Segarra (Cataluña) durante el periodo reproductor

Keywords:

Accipiter nisus, Catalonia, feeding habits, Spain, Sparrowhawk.

Abstract:

Diet composition of a Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) population in a farming area in central Catalonia is studied. 163 prey items have been identified, from which 99 % are birds. Passer domesticus is the most captured prey (12,3 %). Sturnus vulgaris (8,6) and Turdus merula (8,0 %) are the second more predated species. Columba palumbus, Turdus merula and Sturnus vulgaris provide the most important amount of biomass to sparrowhawk diet. Predation upon Alectoris rufa chicks is negligible. Anthropophilous prey dominate sparrowhawk diet in the study area. Likewise diet is extremely diverse, probably as a consequence of the habitat patchiness found in traditional farming areas.