<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><italic>S. uralensis</italic> is a typical silvatic species, specialized for this life style through its biology and diet. Synanthropization is a rare phenomenon in this species, reflected in the changes of diet and hunting strategies, adapting to the characteristics of the urban environment. Between November 22, 1993 and June 2, 1994, an individual of the Ural Owl was observed 39 times in the urban areas of Košice city. The examination of the pellets revealed that the Ural Owl specialized in hunting <italic>Streptopelia decaocto</italic> (76.7%) and <italic>Columba livia</italic> f. <italic>domestica</italic> (13.4%). These results were confirmed by observations of <italic>S. uralensis</italic> hunting <italic>S. decaocto.</italic> This discovery is the first direct evidence of <italic>S. uralensis</italic> diet adaptation to <italic>S. decaocto</italic> and feral <italic>C. livia</italic> f. <italic>domestica</italic> in Slovakia.</p></abstract>

S. uralensis is a typical silvatic species, specialized for this life style through its biology and diet. Synanthropization is a rare phenomenon in this species, reflected in the changes of diet and hunting strategies, adapting to the characteristics of the urban environment. Between November 22, 1993 and June 2, 1994, an individual of the Ural Owl was observed 39 times in the urban areas of Košice city. The examination of the pellets revealed that the Ural Owl specialized in hunting Streptopelia decaocto (76.7%) and Columba livia f. domestica (13.4%). These results were confirmed by observations of S. uralensis hunting S. decaocto. This discovery is the first direct evidence of S. uralensis diet adaptation to S. decaocto and feral C. livia f. domestica in Slovakia.

Contribution to the knowledge on the synanthropization and dietary specialization of the Ural Owl (<italic>Strix uralensis</italic>) in urban environment of Košice city (East Slovakia)

Rovníková 8, SK-040 12 Košice, Slovakia

Comenius University, Botanical garden, SK-038 15 Blatnica, Slovakia

Raptor Journal

Contribution to the knowledge on the synanthropization and dietary specialization of the Ural Owl () in urban environment of Košice city (East Slovakia)

S. uralensis is a typical silvatic species, specialized for this life style through its biology and diet. Synanthropization is a rare phenomenon in this...

Contribution to the knowledge on the synanthropization and dietary specialization of the Ural Owl (Strix uralensis) in urban environment of Košice city (East Slovakia)

Published Online: Jul 05, 2012

Page range: 51 - 60

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10262-012-0033-3

Keywords
urban habitat, Eurasian Collared Dove, diet, urbanization

This content is open access.