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1 June 2009 Temporal and Spatial Differences in the Feeding Ecology of the Spanish Imperial Eagle Aquila adatberti During the Non-Breeding Season: Effects of the Rabbit Population Crash
Roberto Sánchez, Antoni Margalida, Luis Mariano González, Javier Oria
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Abstract

The paper describes the diet of territorial Spanish Imperial Eagles during the non-breeding season, comparing prey identified across different regions (Central, Western and Southern), breeding season vs non-breeding season, and periods (1983–1985 or pre-viral haemorrhagic disease [RHD] vs 1991–2000 or post-RHD). Comparison of the nonbreeding with the breeding season revealed a slight variation in the diet. The Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus continues to be the most important prey species in the eagle's diet during the non-breeding season, followed by pigeons and the Red Partridge Alectoris rufa, although this varies from one region to another. In general, the decrease in the rabbit population after the epizooty (RHD) does not appear to have had an impact on the occurrence of this prey species in the Spanish Imperial Eagle's diet. Although this species is generally considered to be specialised in the capture of rabbits, the variability found between regions suggests that when the main prey (wild Rabbit) is scarce, the Spanish Imperial Eagle's diet is based on alternative prey such as pigeons or carrion.

Roberto Sánchez, Antoni Margalida, Luis Mariano González, and Javier Oria "Temporal and Spatial Differences in the Feeding Ecology of the Spanish Imperial Eagle Aquila adatberti During the Non-Breeding Season: Effects of the Rabbit Population Crash," Acta Ornithologica 44(1), 53-58, (1 June 2009). https://doi.org/10.3161/000164509X464885
Received: 1 July 2008; Accepted: 1 April 2009; Published: 1 June 2009
KEYWORDS
alternative prey
Aquila adalberti
feeding ecology
Non-breeding season
rabbit viral haemorrhagic disease
Spanish Imperial Eagle
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