Osteological guide of songbirds from Central Europe

Kessler, Jenő Eugen

doi:10.1515/orhu-2015-0016

Cited by 19 publications

(15 citation statements)

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“…The resulting materials were measured and analyzed with a digital vernier caliper and binocular microscope. Prey items were identified to the lowest possible taxon level using a combination of several different identification keys (Tvrtković, 1979;Anděra and Horáček, 1982;Ujhelyi, 1989Ujhelyi, , 2016Kryštufek, 1991;Macholán, 1996;Kessler, 2015). The minimum number of individuals (MNI) of each species in each nest-box was estimated by examining and pairing body parts such as maxillae and mandibles in mammals and beaks, sterna, pelvis, and feathers in birds.…”

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confidence: 99%

Diet composition and prey diversity of Tengmalm’s owl Aegolius funereus (Linnaeus, 1758; Aves: Strigidae) in central Serbia during breeding

2018

Turk J Zool

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The European continent represents a breeding area for 13 owl species (Mikkola, 1983). Their diet has been well documented for most species, especially in central and northern parts of the continent (e.g., Uttendörfer, 1952;Mikkola, 1983;Birrer, 2009). These diet studies were performed in various habitat types during different seasons and across dissimilar time spans. However, despite such a large number of studies, feeding habits of breeding owl species are still unknown for many vast regions (e.g., mountain ranges). One species that is relatively poorly investigated in such areas, particularly in southeastern and eastern Europe, is Tengmalm's owl Aegolius funereus, a small forest-dwelling predator, which occurs in the taiga forest belt across Eurasia and North America (Mikkola, 1983;König and Weick, 2008). In the Balkan Peninsula, the Tengmalm's owl population is regarded as a postglacial relict population (Simeonov et al., 1990). In Serbia, this rare nocturnal predator inhabits high mountain areas (>1000 m) covered with mixed and coniferous forests in the western and southwestern parts of the country (Rajković et al., 2010). Across the European continent, this owl species has been in the focus of numerous feeding ecology studies (e.g.

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confidence: 99%

Diet composition and prey diversity of Tengmalm’s owl Aegolius funereus (Linnaeus, 1758; Aves: Strigidae) in central Serbia during breeding

2018

Turk J Zool

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“…The identification of small mammals in pellets was based on Ujhelyi (1989), while the identification of birds was based on Kessler (2015) and Ujhelyi (2016). In some cases, the bird species found could not be identified on species level, therefore, they were grouped according to their size.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Winter diet and roosting site use of urban roosting Long-eared Owls (Asio otus), and the change in the species’ population size in Southeast Hungary^×

Bozó

Rutkai²,

Csathó³

et al. 2020

Ornis Hungarica

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The Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) was chosen as the bird of the year in Hungary by BirdLife Hungary in 2020 to pay more attention to this species. In the present study, we analysed the data collected on the food, changes in the population and the use of the roosting sites of the owls wintering Southeast-Hungary. A total of 4,683 pellets were collected in four winter seasons between 2016 and 2020, of which 5,265 prey animals were identified. We counted the individuals roosting in the winter roosting sites, and from their maximum number we estimated the local population change of the species as well as the success of the breeding. For this, we also used roadkill data from the nearby town, Battonya.The diet of Long-eared Owls in the study area was similar to that observed in other parts of the Carpathian Basin. The smaller differences were mainly due to the different geographical distribution of different prey species. We also identified some species previously having no or very few data, thus we confirmed their stable presence in the area. Different weather factors within the season did not effect owls’ diet. The most varied diet was found in the warmest, least snowy winter. Comparing the feeding data with the data from the 1960s and 1970s, it can be seen that the proportion of preys changed significantly. The proportion of House/Steppe Mice decreased by an order of magnitude, while that of rats increased by the same amount over time. The most likely reasons for this may be changes in agricultural cultivation or local demographic conditions (depopulation). In the 2018/19 season, the proportion of Common Vole in the pellets was much higher than in any other years, suggesting this year’s gradation of the species. The pellets collected in different roosting sites close to each other typically had the same proportions of prey animals.The maximum number of birds observed at the roosting sites did not correlate with the weather of the given season, but was probably related to the effectiveness of the previous breeding season.The population of the species decreased compared to the early 2000’s based on the number of roosting individuals. This may be due to a decline in crow populations. It should be noted, however, that according to both the roadkills in Battonya and the maximum number of the roosting individuals in Kevermes, this drastic decline came to a halt in 2010s.

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“…and Rattus sp., respectively (Table 1). For bird prey identification we used their mandibles as described by Kessler (2015).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Weather-Dependent Variation in the Winter Diet of Urban Roosting Long-Eared Owls Asio Otus in Pécs (Hungary)

Szép

Bocz

Purger

2018

Avian Biology Research

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Long-eared Owls (Asio otus) usually winter in groups in settlements, hunt at night and rest in evergreen trees during the day. From prey remnants regurgitated as pellets, one can detect species present in their hunting areas and changes in their abundance. Our aim was to reveal how the ratio of small mammal species in Long-eared Owl prey changes during the winter, since weather can influence hunting success and the availability of prey. There were 40–60 Long-eared Owls wintering in the city of Pécs. From November 2014 to mid-March 2015 we collected 6,328 pellets from which 9,087 prey remains were identified. 97.5% of prey consisted of small mammals belonging to 21 species. The diversity of small mammals in the pellets collected in November was significantly lower in comparison with other months. With the increase of precipitation, the relative abundance of the Common Vole (Microtus arvalis) and Common Dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) decreased, while that of the Striped Field Mouse (Apodemus agrarius) and Wood Mouse (A. sylvaticus) increased. In the periods when the area was covered by snow, the ratio of the Common Vole as prey continually decreased, probably because it stayed under the snow. Since the availability of the Common Vole declined, the proportions of the Striped Field Mouse and Lesser White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura suaveolens) as alternative prey grew significantly. In low temperature periods, Brown Rats (Rattus norvegicus) and birds are more often preyed upon. Despite the hunting area being predominantly urban, species preferring open grassland habitats were significantly more common. As winter progressed, the role of forest-dwelling species in the diet continuously increased.

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Osteological guide of songbirds from Central Europe

Cited by 19 publications

References 1 publication

Diet composition and prey diversity of Tengmalm’s owl Aegolius funereus (Linnaeus, 1758; Aves: Strigidae) in central Serbia during breeding

Diet composition and prey diversity of Tengmalm’s owl Aegolius funereus (Linnaeus, 1758; Aves: Strigidae) in central Serbia during breeding

Winter diet and roosting site use of urban roosting Long-eared Owls (Asio otus), and the change in the species’ population size in Southeast Hungary^×

Weather-Dependent Variation in the Winter Diet of Urban Roosting Long-Eared Owls Asio Otus in Pécs (Hungary)

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Osteological guide of songbirds from Central Europe

Cited by 19 publications

References 1 publication

Diet composition and prey diversity of Tengmalm’s owl Aegolius funereus (Linnaeus, 1758; Aves: Strigidae) in central Serbia during breeding

Diet composition and prey diversity of Tengmalm’s owl Aegolius funereus (Linnaeus, 1758; Aves: Strigidae) in central Serbia during breeding

Winter diet and roosting site use of urban roosting Long-eared Owls (Asio otus), and the change in the species’ population size in Southeast Hungary×

Weather-Dependent Variation in the Winter Diet of Urban Roosting Long-Eared Owls Asio Otus in Pécs (Hungary)

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Winter diet and roosting site use of urban roosting Long-eared Owls (Asio otus), and the change in the species’ population size in Southeast Hungary^×