The Macaronesian Sparrowhawk diet in native and exotic forests

Abstract

The Macaronesian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus granti) is an endemic subspecies restricted to the forest habitats of Madeira and the Canary Islands. We studied its inter-habitat diet variation on the largest of the Canaries, Tenerife, during the 2014–2015 breeding seasons. We also compared the current food spectrum (2014–2015) with that reported in a study conducted 30 years ago. Prey remains analyses were conducted at the three main forested habitats, two native (laurel forest and Canarian pinewood) and one exotic (exotic tree plantations). Birds formed the main dietary component of the Sparrowhawk (26 species identified), but mammals and reptiles were also consumed in small numbers. Avian prey of around 200–300 g were preferred by Sparrowhawks.