Diet of the booted eagle Hieraaetus pennatus in the south of Avila: Importance of the songbirds

Full article

Published:

Volume 53(1), June 2006. Pages 39-54.

Language:

Spanish

Original title:

Dieta del aguililla calzada Hieraaetus pennatus en el sur de Ávila: Importancia de los paseriformes

Keywords:

Hieraaetus pennatus, booted eagle, methodology, songbirds, diet, RSD

Abstract:

Aims: The diet of booted eagle in two study areas in the south of Avila (central Spain) is described. These are areas with continental Mediterranean climates with great influence by precipitations during the years 1996 and 1999.
Location: Tietar Valley and southern slope of the Sierra de Gredos (Ávila, central Spain).
Methods: Diet composition varied depending on the used methodology for data collection. Results: The birds are the principal group taken, especially the songbirds (biomass and occurrence), reptiles and mammals. The main preys are the common blackbird Turdus merula, european starling Sturnus vulgaris, barn swallow Hirundo rustica, rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus, ocellated lizard Lacerta lepida and swift Apus apus. Rabbits, with their occurrence percentage (8.42 %), are the prey that contributes the biggest quantity of biomass to the diet (22.18 %).
Conclusions: Differences exist in the prey size during the nesting period, probably as a consequence of the participation of the females in the hunt, as well as a significant difference in the prey size depending on the sex as a consequence of the reversed sexual size dimorphism (RSD) of the species.