Scientific Journal of the BirdLife Hungary

A Magyar Madártani és Természetvédelmi Egyesület tudományos folyóirata

Ornis Hungarica. vol.25(1). (2017) p.58-69.

First evidence for carrion–feeding of Eurasian Eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) in Bulgaria
Boyan Milchev & Nikolay Spassov

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Abstract:

Three cases of carrion–feeding with remains of artiodactyls (0.3%, n=1104 samples with food remains) have been documented in a long term diet study of Eurasian Eagle-owls (Bubo bubo) in 53 localities at Southeastern Bulgaria. Bone pieces of a sheep/goat (Ovis aries/Carpa hircus), a Fallow Deer (Dama dama) and a Domestic Pig (Sus scrofa dom.) in three Eurasian Eagle-owl breeding localities (5.7%) prove extremely rare feeding on carrion. Northern White–breasted Hedgehog (Erinaceus roumanicus), rats (Rattus sp.), waterbirds and gallinaceous birds (total 59.5–72.6% by biomass) constituted the main portion of the diets with carrion remains. The comparisons between food niche breadths, diet composition, average prey bio­mass and values of superpredation of the annual diets in the three localities have not supported the carrion–feeding of the Eurasian Eagle-owl as a result of food shortages.