Authors: VERDEJO, J.
Published: Volume 41(1), June 1994. Pages 37-43.
Language: Spanish
Original Title: Datos sobre la reproducción y alimentación del Azor (Accipiter gentilis) en un área mediterránea
Keywords: Acipiter gentilis, clutch size, density, diet, productivity and Spain.
Summary:
Different aspects of the breeding biology of three Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) pairs have been studied during six years (1982-87), in an area of 1500 km2 in the Comarca del Alto Palancia, SW Castellón. The minimum density was 0.2 pairs/100 km2, and it has remained constant throught the study period. The mean clutch size was 3.2 eggs, being the hatching success 81%. All hatched young fledged successfully. Each pair raised between 2.5 and 3 young per year, which means an average of 2.75 for the studied population. There were no significant differences between years or between pairs in the number of young fledged. Birds constituted 53% of the diet, mammals 33%, reptiles 8%, and amphibians 6%. The rabbit was the most important prey type. These results are compared with those from other Iberian and European populations. The following characteristics have been observed: the population of the Alto Palancia has a lower density than that of other Iberian regions, being also lower than that of other European populations. Clutch size is smaller than that of the rest of studied populations. Productivity is similar to or higher than in other European populations. Birds are the most abundant prey, while it is the only population where amphibians are present in the diet.
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