Geographic variation in the spring diet of Falco tinnunculus L. on the islands of Fuerteventura and El Hierro (Canary Islands)
A study of the diet of the Eurasian kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) in semi-desert habitats of Fuerteventura, F, (one of the castern islands in the Canarian archipelago close to the African coast is compared with that of the kestrel's diet in humid habitats, which offer great variety in terms of plant life, on El Hierro, H, (the most western of the Canary Islands and the most distant from the African continent). A total of 667 pellets were analyzed from which 9,725 prey specimens were identified (4,820 F; 4,905 H). The kestrel's diet is based on Muridae (32.0% of biomass F, 33.1 % H), Acrididae (12.7 % F, 14.7 % H) and Lacertidae (12.0 % F, 13.8 H). Insects were taken most often, particulary Formicidae, Scarabacidae and Acrididae (F); Scarabaeidae, Acrididae and Tenebrionidae (H). The kestrel's diet was qualitatively very similar on both islands. On El Hierro a certain selective preference for medium to large insects is apparent in contrast to the fact that on Fuerteventura no such preference is shown with insects of a wide range of sizes being caught.
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | artículo biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Zoologisches Forschungsinstitut und Museum Alexander Koenig
1994
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| Subjects: | Aves, Falconidae, Falco tinnunculus, diet, El Hierro, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10261/22487 |
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