Diet of the Red-backed Hawk (Buteo polyosoma) in a forested area of the Chilean Patagonia and its relation to the abundance of rodent prey

Ricardo A. Figueroa Rojas; E. Soraya Corales Stappung; Sergio Alvarado O.

doi:10.56178/eh.v18i1.862

Articles Published 01 August 2003 https://doi.org/10.56178/eh.v18i1.862

Diet of the Red-backed Hawk (Buteo polyosoma) in a forested area of the Chilean Patagonia and its relation to the abundance of rodent prey

Buteo polyosoma Chilean Patagonia diet Oligoryzomys longicaudatus prey selection Red-backed Hawk

Ricardo A. Figueroa Rojas Estudios para la Conservación y Manejo de la Vida Silvestre Consultores. Blanco Encalada 350, Chillán, Chile

E. Soraya Corales Stappung Estudios para la Conservación y Manejo de la Vida Silvestre Consultores. Blanco Encalada 350, Chillán, Chile

Sergio Alvarado O. Estudios para la Conservación y Manejo de la Vida Silvestre Consultores. Blanco Encalada 350, Chillán, Chile

Abstract

The diet of Red-backed Hawk (Buteo polyosoma) was quantified by analyzing 40 pellets collected during winter and spring 1999 and winter 2000 in a forested area of Aysén, Chilean Patagonia. Rodents were the most numerous prey (82% of all prey), and accounted for the highest contribution to total biomass (83%). Among rodents, Oligoryzomys longicaudatus was the most consumed prey species, accounting for 70% of total number and 64% of total biomass. Birds accounted for less than 6% in number, but their biomass contribution was significantly higher (more than 15%). Insects constituted 12% in number, but less than 0.5% of total biomass. The Red-backed Hawk seemed to consume Oligoryzomys longicaudatus according to their field abundance. Also, it seemed to prey disproportionately upon young adult rodents. Relating these results with previous studies on the same species, we conclude that this hawk mostly predates upon vertebrate species throughout its distribution range, with rodents being the most important prey.

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References

ARAYA B, BERNAL M, SCHLATTER R AND SALLABERRY M (1995) Lista patrón de las aves chilenas. Editorial Universitaria, Santiago
BELLOCQ MI (1987) Selección de hábitat de caza y depredación diferencial de Athene cunicularia sobre roedores en agroecosistemas agrarios. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 60:81–86
BELLOCQ MI (1990) Composición y variación temporal de la dieta de Tyto alba en ecosistemas agrarios pampeanos, Argentina. Vida Silvestre Neotropical 2:32–35
BELLOCQ MI AND KRAVETZ FO (1990) Practical and theoretical implications of perch use for avian predator on rodent populations. Ecosur 16:61–67
BROWN LH AND AMADON D (1968) Eagles, hawks and falcons of the world. Volume 1. Country Life Books, London
CASTRO SA AND JAKSIC FM (1995) Great Horned and Barn owls prey differentially according to the age/size of a rodent in northcentral Chile. Journal of Raptor Research 29:245–249
CERDA J AND CRUCES P (1998) Investigación y estudio poblacional de la liebre en la XI región de Aysén. Gobierno Regional de Aysén-Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero, Ministerio de Agricultura, Chile
COUVE E AND VIDAL-OJEDA C (2000) Birds of the Beagle Channel and Cape Horn. Fantástico Sur Birding, Punta Arenas
CRUCES P, CERDA J AND AHUMADA M (1999) Guías de condición para los pastizales de la ecorregión templada húmeda de Aysén. Gobierno Regional de Aysén-Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero, Ministerio de Agricultura, Chile
DICKMAN CR, PREVADEC M AND LYNAM AJ (1991) Differential predation of size and sex classes of mice by the barn owl, Tyto alba. Oikos 62:67–76
EGLI G (1996) Biomorfología de algunas aves de Chile central. Boletín Chileno de Ornitología 3:2–9
FEITO RS, GONZÁLEZ LA AND MONDIÓN R (1981) Determination of age and age classes of Akodon olivaceus in southern Chile. Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment 16:201–207
FIGUEROA RA AND CORALES ES (2002) Winter diet of the American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) in the Forested Chilean Patagonia and its relation to the availability of prey. International Hawkwatcher 5:7–14
FIGUEROA RA, CORALES ES, CERDA J AND SALDIVIA H (2001) Monitoreo de roedores silvestres en seis localidades rurales de la región de Aysén, Chile: Informe Final 1998-2000. Gobierno Regional de Aysén-Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero, Ministerio de Agricultura, Chile
FOWLER J AND COHEN L (1986) Statistics for ornithologists. British Trust for Ornithology, Norfolk
FUENTES MA, SIMONETTI JA, SEPÚLVEDA MS AND ACEVEDO PA (1993) Diet of the Red-backed Buzzard (Buteo polyosoma exsul) and the Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus suinda) in the Juan Fernández Archipelago off Chile. Journal of Raptor Research 27:167–169
GAJARDO R (1994) La vegetación natural de Chile: clasificación y distribución geográfica. Editorial Universitaria, Santiago
GONZÁLEZ LA AND MARDONES M (2000) Determinación de edad en dos especies del género Abrothrix. Medio Ambiente 13:11–18
GONZÁLEZ LA, MURÚA RE AND JOFRÉ C (1989) The effect of seed availability on population density of Oryzomys in southern Chile. Journal of Mammalogy 70:401–403
GROSSE J (1974) Visión de Aysén. Second edition. Author's publication. Santiago
HENRÍQUEZ C (1993) Estimación de edad a partir de caracteres dentarios, corporales y craneométricos en Oryzomys longicaudatus (Rodentia, Cricetidae). Biol. Chem. Sc. Teacher’s Thesis, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia
HILTY SL AND BROWN WL (1986) A guide to birds of Colombia. Princeton University Press, Princeton
DEL HOYO J, ELLIOT A AND SARGATAL J (1994) Handbook of the birds of the world. Volume 2. New World vultures to guineafowl. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona
JAKSIC FM (1979) Técnicas estadísticas simples para evaluar selectividad dietaria en Strigiformes. Medio Ambiente 4:114–118
JAKSIC FM, IRIARTE JA AND JIMÉNEZ JE (2002) The raptors of Torres del Paine National Park, Chile: biodiversity and conservation. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 75:449–461
JAKSIC FM, PAVEZ EF, JIMÉNEZ JE AND TORRES-MURA JC (2001) The conservation status of raptors in the Metropolitan Region, Chile. Journal of Raptor Research 35:151–158
JAKSIC FM, YAÑEZ JL AND FUENTES ER (1981) Assessing a small mammal community in central Chile. Journal of Mammalogy 62:391–396
JIMÉNEZ JE (1995) Historia natural del aguilucho Buteo polyosoma: una revisión. Hornero 14:1–9
KELT DA (1996) Ecology of small mammals across a strong environmental gradient in southern South America. Journal of Mammalogy 77:205–219
KOTLER BP (1985) Owl predation on desert rodents which differ in morphology and behavior. Journal of Mammalogy 66:824–828
KOTLER BP, BROWN JS, SMITH RJ AND WIRTZ WO (1988) The effects of morphology and body size on rates of owl predation on desert rodents. Oikos 53:145–152
LONGLAND WS AND JENKINS SH (1987) Sex and age affect vulnerability of desert rodents to owl predation. Journal of Mammalogy 68:746–754
MANN G (1978) Los pequeños mamíferos de Chile: marsupiales, quirópteros, edentados y roedores. Gayana, Zoología 40:1–342
MARTI C (1987) Raptor food habits studies. Pp. 67–79 in: PENDLETON BA, MILLSAP BA, CLINE KW AND BIRD DM (eds) Raptor management techniques manual. National Wildlife Federation, Washington DC
MESERVE PL, LANG BK, MURÚA RE, MUÑOZ-PEDREROS A AND GONZÁLEZ LA (1991) Characteristics of a terrestrial small mammal assemblage in a temperate rainforest in Chile. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 64:157–169
MESERVE PL, LANG BK AND PATTERSON BD (1988) Trophic relationships of small mammals in a Chilean temperate rainforest. Journal of Mammalogy 69:721–730
MORGADO E, GUNTHER B AND GONZÁLEZ U (1987) On the allometry of wings. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 60:71–79
MUÑOZ A, MURÚA RE AND GONZÁLEZ LA (1990) Nicho ecológico de la asociación de micromamíferos en un agroecosistema forestal de Chile. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 63:267–277
MURÚA RE (1996) Comunidades de mamíferos del bosque templado de Chile. Pp. 113–133 in: ARMESTO JJ, VILLAGRÁN C AND ARROYO MTK (eds) Ecología de los bosques nativos de Chile. Editorial Universitaria, Santiago
MURÚA RE (1998) Ecología de los reservorios silvestres de hantavirus en Chile. Revista Chilena de Infectología 15:79–83
MURÚA RE AND GONZÁLEZ LA (1986) Regulation of numbers in two Neotropical rodent species in southern Chile. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 59:193–200
MURÚA RE, GONZÁLEZ LA AND JOFRÉ C (1982) Estudios ecológicos de roedores silvestres en los bosques templados fríos de Chile. Boletín del Museo Nacional de Historia Natural 38:105–116
MURÚA RE, GONZÁLEZ LA AND MESERVE PL (1986) Population Ecology of Oryzomys longicaudatus Phillipi (Rodentia: Cricetidae) in southern Chile. Journal of Animal Ecology 55:281-293
MURÚA RE, ROJAS M AND GONZÁLEZ LA (1987) Ciclo reproductivo anual de Akodon olivaceus y Oryzomys longicaudatus (Rodentia; Cricetidae). Medio Ambiente 8:4–51
MUSSER GM AND CARLETON MD (1993) Family Muridae. Pp. 501-756 in: WILSON DE AND REEDER DM (eds) Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC
PEARSON O (1995) Annotated keys for identifying small mammals living in or near Nahuel Huapi National Park or Lanin National Park, southern Argentina. Mastozoología Neotropical 2:99–148
PEÑA L (1986) Introducción a los insectos de Chile. Editorial Universitaria, Santiago
REYES C (1992) Clave para la identificación de los órdenes de aves chilenas: microestructura de los nodos de las bárbulas. Biol. Teacher’s Thesis, Universidad de los Lagos, Osorno
SANTANA AM (1981) Determinación de edad y clases de edad en Oryzomys longicaudatus, roedor silvestre del bosque higrófilo templado en el sur de Chile. Biol. Chem. Sc. Teacher’s Thesis, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia
SCHLATTER RP, YAÑEZ JL AND JAKSIC FM (1980) Food-niche relationships between Chilean Eagles and Red-backed Buzzards in Central Chile. Auk 97:897–898
SIMONETTI J (1986) Microhabitat use by small mammals in central Chile. PhD Dissertation, University of Washington, Seattle
TALA C, GONZÁLEZ B AND BONACIC C (1995) Análisis de la dieta del tucúquere Bubo virginianus en el valle del Río Ibañez, Aysén. Boletín Chileno de Ornitología 2:34–35
VAURIE C (1962) A systematic study of the Red-backed hawks of South America. Condor 64:277–290
WOODS RW (1975) The birds of the Falkland Islands. Compton Press, Wiltshire
ZAR JH (1984) Biostatistical analysis. Second edition. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs

How to cite

Ricardo A. Figueroa Rojas, E. Soraya Corales Stappung, Sergio Alvarado O. (2003). Diet of the Red-backed Hawk (Buteo polyosoma) in a forested area of the Chilean Patagonia and its relation to the abundance of rodent prey. El Hornero, Vol. 18 No. 1 (2003), 43-52. https://doi.org/10.56178/eh.v18i1.862

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[1] ARAYA B, BERNAL M, SCHLATTER R AND SALLABERRY M (1995) Lista patrón de las aves chilenas. Editorial Universitaria, Santiago

[2] BELLOCQ MI (1987) Selección de hábitat de caza y depredación diferencial de Athene cunicularia sobre roedores en agroecosistemas agrarios. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 60:81–86

[3] BELLOCQ MI (1990) Composición y variación temporal de la dieta de Tyto alba en ecosistemas agrarios pampeanos, Argentina. Vida Silvestre Neotropical 2:32–35

[4] BELLOCQ MI AND KRAVETZ FO (1990) Practical and theoretical implications of perch use for avian predator on rodent populations. Ecosur 16:61–67

[5] BROWN LH AND AMADON D (1968) Eagles, hawks and falcons of the world. Volume 1. Country Life Books, London

[6] CASTRO SA AND JAKSIC FM (1995) Great Horned and Barn owls prey differentially according to the age/size of a rodent in northcentral Chile. Journal of Raptor Research 29:245–249

[7] CERDA J AND CRUCES P (1998) Investigación y estudio poblacional de la liebre en la XI región de Aysén. Gobierno Regional de Aysén-Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero, Ministerio de Agricultura, Chile

[8] COUVE E AND VIDAL-OJEDA C (2000) Birds of the Beagle Channel and Cape Horn. Fantástico Sur Birding, Punta Arenas

[9] CRUCES P, CERDA J AND AHUMADA M (1999) Guías de condición para los pastizales de la ecorregión templada húmeda de Aysén. Gobierno Regional de Aysén-Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero, Ministerio de Agricultura, Chile

[10] DICKMAN CR, PREVADEC M AND LYNAM AJ (1991) Differential predation of size and sex classes of mice by the barn owl, Tyto alba. Oikos 62:67–76

[11] EGLI G (1996) Biomorfología de algunas aves de Chile central. Boletín Chileno de Ornitología 3:2–9

[12] FEITO RS, GONZÁLEZ LA AND MONDIÓN R (1981) Determination of age and age classes of Akodon olivaceus in southern Chile. Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment 16:201–207

[13] FIGUEROA RA AND CORALES ES (2002) Winter diet of the American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) in the Forested Chilean Patagonia and its relation to the availability of prey. International Hawkwatcher 5:7–14

[14] FIGUEROA RA, CORALES ES, CERDA J AND SALDIVIA H (2001) Monitoreo de roedores silvestres en seis localidades rurales de la región de Aysén, Chile: Informe Final 1998-2000. Gobierno Regional de Aysén-Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero, Ministerio de Agricultura, Chile

[15] FOWLER J AND COHEN L (1986) Statistics for ornithologists. British Trust for Ornithology, Norfolk

[16] FUENTES MA, SIMONETTI JA, SEPÚLVEDA MS AND ACEVEDO PA (1993) Diet of the Red-backed Buzzard (Buteo polyosoma exsul) and the Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus suinda) in the Juan Fernández Archipelago off Chile. Journal of Raptor Research 27:167–169

[17] GAJARDO R (1994) La vegetación natural de Chile: clasificación y distribución geográfica. Editorial Universitaria, Santiago

[18] GONZÁLEZ LA AND MARDONES M (2000) Determinación de edad en dos especies del género Abrothrix. Medio Ambiente 13:11–18

[19] GONZÁLEZ LA, MURÚA RE AND JOFRÉ C (1989) The effect of seed availability on population density of Oryzomys in southern Chile. Journal of Mammalogy 70:401–403

[20] GROSSE J (1974) Visión de Aysén. Second edition. Author's publication. Santiago

[21] HENRÍQUEZ C (1993) Estimación de edad a partir de caracteres dentarios, corporales y craneométricos en Oryzomys longicaudatus (Rodentia, Cricetidae). Biol. Chem. Sc. Teacher’s Thesis, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia

[22] HILTY SL AND BROWN WL (1986) A guide to birds of Colombia. Princeton University Press, Princeton

[23] DEL HOYO J, ELLIOT A AND SARGATAL J (1994) Handbook of the birds of the world. Volume 2. New World vultures to guineafowl. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona

[24] JAKSIC FM (1979) Técnicas estadísticas simples para evaluar selectividad dietaria en Strigiformes. Medio Ambiente 4:114–118

[25] JAKSIC FM, IRIARTE JA AND JIMÉNEZ JE (2002) The raptors of Torres del Paine National Park, Chile: biodiversity and conservation. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 75:449–461

[26] JAKSIC FM, PAVEZ EF, JIMÉNEZ JE AND TORRES-MURA JC (2001) The conservation status of raptors in the Metropolitan Region, Chile. Journal of Raptor Research 35:151–158

[27] JAKSIC FM, YAÑEZ JL AND FUENTES ER (1981) Assessing a small mammal community in central Chile. Journal of Mammalogy 62:391–396

[28] JIMÉNEZ JE (1995) Historia natural del aguilucho Buteo polyosoma: una revisión. Hornero 14:1–9

[29] KELT DA (1996) Ecology of small mammals across a strong environmental gradient in southern South America. Journal of Mammalogy 77:205–219

[30] KOTLER BP (1985) Owl predation on desert rodents which differ in morphology and behavior. Journal of Mammalogy 66:824–828

[31] KOTLER BP, BROWN JS, SMITH RJ AND WIRTZ WO (1988) The effects of morphology and body size on rates of owl predation on desert rodents. Oikos 53:145–152

[32] LONGLAND WS AND JENKINS SH (1987) Sex and age affect vulnerability of desert rodents to owl predation. Journal of Mammalogy 68:746–754

[33] MANN G (1978) Los pequeños mamíferos de Chile: marsupiales, quirópteros, edentados y roedores. Gayana, Zoología 40:1–342

[34] MARTI C (1987) Raptor food habits studies. Pp. 67–79 in: PENDLETON BA, MILLSAP BA, CLINE KW AND BIRD DM (eds) Raptor management techniques manual. National Wildlife Federation, Washington DC

[35] MESERVE PL, LANG BK, MURÚA RE, MUÑOZ-PEDREROS A AND GONZÁLEZ LA (1991) Characteristics of a terrestrial small mammal assemblage in a temperate rainforest in Chile. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 64:157–169

[36] MESERVE PL, LANG BK AND PATTERSON BD (1988) Trophic relationships of small mammals in a Chilean temperate rainforest. Journal of Mammalogy 69:721–730

[37] MORGADO E, GUNTHER B AND GONZÁLEZ U (1987) On the allometry of wings. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 60:71–79

[38] MUÑOZ A, MURÚA RE AND GONZÁLEZ LA (1990) Nicho ecológico de la asociación de micromamíferos en un agroecosistema forestal de Chile. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 63:267–277

[39] MURÚA RE (1996) Comunidades de mamíferos del bosque templado de Chile. Pp. 113–133 in: ARMESTO JJ, VILLAGRÁN C AND ARROYO MTK (eds) Ecología de los bosques nativos de Chile. Editorial Universitaria, Santiago

[40] MURÚA RE (1998) Ecología de los reservorios silvestres de hantavirus en Chile. Revista Chilena de Infectología 15:79–83

[41] MURÚA RE AND GONZÁLEZ LA (1986) Regulation of numbers in two Neotropical rodent species in southern Chile. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 59:193–200

[42] MURÚA RE, GONZÁLEZ LA AND JOFRÉ C (1982) Estudios ecológicos de roedores silvestres en los bosques templados fríos de Chile. Boletín del Museo Nacional de Historia Natural 38:105–116

[43] MURÚA RE, GONZÁLEZ LA AND MESERVE PL (1986) Population Ecology of Oryzomys longicaudatus Phillipi (Rodentia: Cricetidae) in southern Chile. Journal of Animal Ecology 55:281-293

[44] MURÚA RE, ROJAS M AND GONZÁLEZ LA (1987) Ciclo reproductivo anual de Akodon olivaceus y Oryzomys longicaudatus (Rodentia; Cricetidae). Medio Ambiente 8:4–51

[45] MUSSER GM AND CARLETON MD (1993) Family Muridae. Pp. 501-756 in: WILSON DE AND REEDER DM (eds) Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC

[46] PEARSON O (1995) Annotated keys for identifying small mammals living in or near Nahuel Huapi National Park or Lanin National Park, southern Argentina. Mastozoología Neotropical 2:99–148

[47] PEÑA L (1986) Introducción a los insectos de Chile. Editorial Universitaria, Santiago

[48] REYES C (1992) Clave para la identificación de los órdenes de aves chilenas: microestructura de los nodos de las bárbulas. Biol. Teacher’s Thesis, Universidad de los Lagos, Osorno

[49] SANTANA AM (1981) Determinación de edad y clases de edad en Oryzomys longicaudatus, roedor silvestre del bosque higrófilo templado en el sur de Chile. Biol. Chem. Sc. Teacher’s Thesis, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia

[50] SCHLATTER RP, YAÑEZ JL AND JAKSIC FM (1980) Food-niche relationships between Chilean Eagles and Red-backed Buzzards in Central Chile. Auk 97:897–898

[51] SIMONETTI J (1986) Microhabitat use by small mammals in central Chile. PhD Dissertation, University of Washington, Seattle

[52] TALA C, GONZÁLEZ B AND BONACIC C (1995) Análisis de la dieta del tucúquere Bubo virginianus en el valle del Río Ibañez, Aysén. Boletín Chileno de Ornitología 2:34–35

[53] VAURIE C (1962) A systematic study of the Red-backed hawks of South America. Condor 64:277–290

[54] WOODS RW (1975) The birds of the Falkland Islands. Compton Press, Wiltshire

[55] ZAR JH (1984) Biostatistical analysis. Second edition. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs