Feeding ecology of the Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus in the south of Alicante (SE Spain)

Resumen

The composition of the diet of the Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus was studied in 15 territories of southern Alicante (Spain) between the years 2012 - 2014. This study was carried out by analyzing 571 pellets throughout the year. Insects occurred in 89.9% of samples, while birds occurred in just a 7.5%, mammals in a 2.5% and reptiles, with a very low percentage, in a 0.08%. Nevertheless, mammals represented the main part of the biomass fed with a 62.3% of the diet. This diet composition differs from that recorded in northern and central Europe, where large preys, such as micromammals, predominate. This could be due to several factors, mainly the lower density and richness of micromammals in the Mediterranean region and differences in activity patterns between micromammals and kestrels in this region. We found local spatial differences in the consumption of birds within our study which could be related with differences in land use intensification or local primary prey abundance. Finally, we reported the first records of consumption of an exotic invader coleopteron, the Red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus.