Ardea
Official journal of the Netherlands Ornithologists' Union

login


[close window] [previous abstract] [next abstract]

Opdam P. (1978) Feeding ecology of a Sparrowhawk population Accipiter nisus. ARDEA 66 (4): 137-155
Sparrowhawk food was studied during 4 years continuously in an area of 240 km2. Remains of prey were used to reconstruct composition of diet, whereas bird census results were available to estimate composition and amount of food stock during the breeding season. Bird species of half open habitats were most vulnerable to Sparrowhawk predation, whereas mammals and birds inhabiting dense forest, scrub and tree foliage were underrepresented in the food. Temporal and local variations in the food composition are illustrated. The significance of the reproductive increase of prey species for the Sparrowhawk is demonstrated. House Sparrows appeared to be most often predated in times that prey species in forest and field habitats were relatively scarce. There is some evidence that Sparrowhawks breeding in bird-poor pine forests more often hunted in villages than do hawks nesting in mixed-forest areas. Predation pressure in April and May did not exceed 3% of the prey population. Food composition is discussed in relation to man-made changes in the environment. The mechanisms of prey selection by Sparrowhawks are discussed on the basis of the data from this study.


[close window] [previous abstract] [next abstract]