Title:

Weather-Dependent Variation in the Cold-Season Diet of Urban Kestrels Falco tinnunculus

Subtitle:

Zmienność składu pokarmu miejskich pustułek w Warszawie w zależności od warunków pogodowych w sezonie pozalęgowym ; Cold-season diet of urban Kestrels

Creator:

Żmihorski, Michał ; Rejt, Łukasz

Contributor:

Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences

Publisher:

Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences ; Natura Optima Dux Foundation

Place of publishing:

Warsaw

Date issued/created:

2007

Description:

pg(s) 107–113

Type of object:

Journal/Article

Subject and Keywords:

Kestrel ; Falco tinnunculus ; ambient temperature ; diet variability ; urban habitat ; pustułka zwyczajna ; pustułka ; sokół pustułka

Abstract:

The composition and variation of the diet of urban Kestrels in Warsaw (Central Poland) were studied during non-breeding periods (October-March) between 1995 and 2003. A total of 1 651 pellets were collected (at 15 sites), in which 2 390 vertebrate prey items were found. The most common prey were small rodents (80% of items, 78% of biomass), predominantly Common Voles. Birds were markedly less common (7% of items, 11% of biomass). The dietary composition was variable during the cold season. Mean ambient temperature and the consecutive day of the cold season did influence the diet composition but snow depth did not. The main prey category in the Kestrels' diet — Microtidae — remained stable and independent of weather conditions. The percentages of mice and birds were negatively affected by mean ambient temperature, and consumption of birds was higher at the beginning (October) than at the end of the winter (March). Prey number and biomass of prey per pellet decreased during the cold season but were not influenced by temperature. The index of food niche breadth was inversely proportional to temperature.

Relation:

Acta Ornithologica

Volume:

42

Issue:

1

Start page:

107

End page:

113

Resource type:

Text

Detailed Resource Type:

Journal

Format:

text/xml

Resource Identifier:

10.3161/068.042.0105

Source:

MiIZ PAN, call no. P.257 ; MiIZ PAN, call no. P.4568 ; click here to follow the link

Language:

eng

Language of abstract:

pol ; eng

Rights:

Rights Reserved - Free Access

Terms of use:

Copyright-protected material. May be used within the limits of statutory user freedoms

Digitizing institution:

Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Original in:

Library of the Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Access:

Open