<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>We first examine how falcons can be integrated into avian tree of life. Then we go one step further and investigate the position of Peregrine Falcons in a comprehensive phylogeny of the falcons (genus <italic>Falco</italic>), which was reconstructed on the basis of DNA sequences. Whether the 19 subspecies of the Peregrine Falcon can be identified genetically is examined in the next step. Recently, the question of Peregrine Falcon’s genetics in Central Europe has become of wider interest. Which subspecies was present before the collapse of populations and which currently after various reintroduction projects? Evidence is provided, that Central Europe constitutes a (natural) hybrid zone between <italic>F. p. brookei</italic> from the Mediterranean and <italic>F. p. peregrinus</italic> of northern Europe.</abstract>

Phylogeny of Falconidae and phylogeography of Peregrine Falcons

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Intraspecific nest parasitism has only recently received more attention from ornithologists. In 2001, Yom-Tov published a list of 234 species that had exhibited this behaviour. I have since found literature data on four additional species in which intraspecific nest parasitism has been observed. No such record has so far been published from Hungary. This study presents records on 25 species from Hungary and on one species from Croatia, out of which I have not found any reference for intraspecific nest parasitism in the literature for Cattle Egret <italic>(Bubulcus ibis)</italic>, Eurasian Thick-knee <italic>(Burhinus oedicnemus)</italic>, Black-winged Stilt <italic>(Himantopus himantopus)</italic>, Collared Pratincole <italic>(Glareola pratincola)</italic>, Mediterranean Gull <italic>(Larus melanocephalus)</italic>, Little Tern <italic>(Sternula albifrons)</italic>, Whiskered Tern <italic>(Chlidonias hybrida)</italic>, Eurasian Roller <italic>(Coracias garrulus)</italic> and Eurasian Jackdaw <italic>(Corvus monedula)</italic>. In addition to records from Hungary, for Black-headed Gull <italic>(Larus ridibundus)</italic> and Mediterranean Gull I also present observations from Slovakia, and for Common Shelduck <italic>(Tadorna tadorna)</italic> from Germany.</abstract>

New species on the list of species with intraspecific nest parasitism

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The number of available publications on the post-fledging parental care of wading birds (herons, ibises, spoonbills, and storks) and many other bird species is limited. In this study, I summarised the available knowledge collated from the observations of the Eurasian Spoonbills <italic>(Platalea leucorodia)</italic> in Hungary. A part of the available data is based on observations of colour-ringed individuals. The latest feeding event of a young by its parent was observed at Lake Csaj on 5 October 2020. The youngsters were being fed by their parents for 43 days (observed maximum) during the post-fledging dispersal. However, I estimated that this behaviour could even last for as long as 53 days. The parents lead (care for) their yearlings for 51 days (observed maximum), again I estimated that it could potentially last for a longer period of 63 days. The estimated length of parental care and feeding period could be longer or a little bit shorter during the post-fledging dispersal because it was not possible to follow the life of the families exactly. During parental care (feeding and leading of chicks), the majority of the colour-ringed Spoonbills were observed 2–26 km to the natal colonies of yearlings and the breeding colonies of the adults. However, on some occasions, they were 111–145 km far from those colonies. During the post-fledging dispersal, Spoonbills care for their chicks for a longer time than the European breeding heron species. A possible reason could be that the bills of young Spoonbills are not appropriate for fishing effectively at the beginning of fledging because of their shorter length and their less efficient hydrodynamic effect during lateral sweeping. Another reason could be that Spoonbills are tactile foragers and need more time to learn fishing. Based on data of a juvenile followed by a GPS device, learning the migration route and stop-over sites from parents or experienced adults could be important for Spoonbills, otherwise, young migrating alone with no accomplished individuals may not find the optimal routes and the proper stop-over areas. In the case of Spoonbills, we still do not know exactly the features of parental care during the post-fledging dispersal and have even less data on it during the migration. Thus, I request potential observers along the Adriatic Flyway to record the observations of parent-offspring interactions (feeding by parents, begging) particularly the Hungarian colour-ringed adults and/or young individuals and send data to the author’s e-mail address.
</abstract>

Observations on parental care of the Eurasian Spoonbill <italic>(Platalea leucorodia)</italic> during the post-fledging dispersal

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Although the Ferruginous Duck <italic>(Aythya nyroca)</italic> has thoroughly been studied, the foraging behaviour of this species is still not completely known. In the present paper we studied the diurnal feeding behaviour of ducks. We monitored the annual cycle of birds through two fieldtrips per month. The instantaneous behaviour of birds was recorded in regular 30-minute intervals from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., amounting a total of 456 observation hours. Food searching activity corresponds to a quarter of the total diurnal time budget of the Ferruginous Duck. Foraging behaviour was classified into five categories dominated by the “diving”, which is almost 45.61% of the total search time. Foraging activities at the water surface considered to be secondary activities, including feeding by “bill”, “neck and head”, and “beak and head” in a rate of 19.86%, 14.53%, and 13.98%, respectively. The “toggle” remains a minor activity and represents only 5.99% of foraging time. The feeding behaviour of this species correlated to several environmental parameters (rainfall, temperature and wind velocity), and linked to the group size of ducks visiting the lake. Regarding the food intensity, our results show the highest values for “bill and head” behaviour. “Diving” has the longest feeding interval (16.16±14.1 minutes), while foraging by “bill” has the shortest (0.69 ± 0.48 minutes).</abstract>

Diurnal feeding strategies of the Ferruginous Duck <italic>(Aythya nyroca)</italic> in Lake Tonga (Northeastern Algeria)

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The subject of this study focuses on the cranial morphology of 24 native European passerine bird families. In addition to the discussion of taxonomical questions regarding to the examination of beak, orbit, cranium and mandible, the author aims to provide guidance to the determination of raptors’ prey remains. Most of the studied bird families are well-distinguishable using the knowledge on the mentioned osteological traits except some less-specialised families.</abstract>

Cranial morphology of European passerine bird families (Aves, Passeriformes)

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Due to the number of specimen, their size and weaker flight capabilities they are one of the favorite preys of furred and feathered carnivores. Due to this factor quite a number of skeletal fragments remained and fossilized over millions of years, especially in caves. Their presence in Europe can be traced back to the Eocene, but the majority of finds come from the Neogene and the Quaternary. In the Carpathian Basin they are known since the beginning of the Neogene. The text is complemented with the bibliography concerning the fossilized material, one figure and six table.</abstract>

Evolution of Galliformes and their presence in the Carpathian Basin

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
This study aimed to monitor the demographic changes of some closely related species based on bird ringing data from the CES (Constant Effort Sites) program in Hungary between 2007 and 2018, and to explore the reasons for these demographic changes. The CES program tracks breeding bird populations with standard methods. The studied species breeding in Hungary were from genera <italic>Sylvia</italic>, <italic>Curruca,</italic> and <italic>Phylloscopus</italic>. Among these species, the trends of some forest birds, like Eurasian Blackcap <italic>(Sylvia atricapilla)</italic>, Lesser Whitethroat <italic>(Curruca curruca)</italic>, Common Chiffchaff <italic>(Phylloscopus collybita)</italic> and Willow Warbler (<italic>Ph. trochilus)</italic> showed no substantial changes, and one of the open-habitat species, the Barred Warbler <italic>(Curruca nisoria)</italic> – a long distant migrant – showed decreasing trends. The Garden Warbler <italic>(Sylvia borin)</italic> – a trans-Saharan migrant but forest dweller – also experienced population declines. Short-distance migrants maintained stable populations. Common Whitethroat productivity displayed an increasing trend to compensate for population decline. Upon examining the Eurasian Blackcap, this study detected a strong relationship between the number of adult birds, productivity, and the number of adults captured the following year.
</abstract>

Population trend and breeding productivity of some migrant passerines in Hungary

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The diet of Rufous-legged Owl, <italic>Strix rufipes,</italic> a small raptor present in an Andean protected area, is described here. During the fall of 2017, 44 pellets were collected in the study area, being subsequently analyzed. The occurrence of small mammal prey items in pellets was compared with capture frequencies with live-trapping through Sherman traps. Regarding occurrence frequencies in the diet, arthropods were the most frequent (49.34%), followed by mammals (39.31%), birds (7.86%) and reptiles (3.37%). However, in terms of biomass, mammals had the highest biomass contribution. The observed frequency of consumed preys showed a random pattern, according to the captures of small mammals obtained with Sherman traps. The role of wildfire in the composition of prey in the observed trophic spectrum of these forest owls is also discussed.
</abstract>

Food habits of Rufous-legged Owl in a protected area of south-central Chile affected by mixed wildfire

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The Western Barn Owl <italic>(Tyto alba)</italic> is a common breeder in Hungary. It is a resident bird of open areas, staying near nesting sites in winter. Its population is strongly influenced by food availability, weather conditions and several anthropogenic activities. One of the most important factors of these in recent decades has been road mortality. In this work, we processed data of roadkilled individuals and field observation records in the Csanádihát region in south-eastern Hungary from the period 1995–2022. In Battonya, we have been recording roadkill individuals since 1995, while observations of Barn Owl individuals from Kevermes have been available since 2005. The species is a regular, but scarce breeder in the area, so both the number of roadkilled individuals and the number of field observations were relatively low. Nevertheless, we had the opportunity to examine how the number of individuals of the species that were killed in the traffic varied over time and within years. According to our data, more birds collided during the winter, and also between July and November. This can be explained mostly by the seasonal lack of food and the fledging time of inexperienced juveniles. The temporal distribution of field observations were different from the dynamics of the roadkills, as the species was mainly observed during the breeding season. The exact population size of the area can be difficultly estimated, as it breeds mainly in attics of stable, granary and church buildings. The breeding population of Kevermes was estimated at 3–4 pairs and did not change significantly in the studied period. Over the same 28-year period, using the same methods to the two other most common nesting owl species of the region, we found that the within-year roadkill dynamics of the Little Owl <italic>(Athene noctua)</italic> and the Northern Long-eared Owl <italic>(Asio otus)</italic> differed from that of the Western Barn Owls, which may be due to the different feeding habits of the species. We can conclude that the number of roadkilled birds was proportional to the local population of the species.
</abstract>

Investigation of roadkilled Western Barn Owls <italic>(Tyto alba)</italic> in Csanádi-hát region (SE Hungary)

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Eating owl pellets by non-predator vertebrates is a rare and difficult-to-prove food chain relationship. In this paper, I reported the first record of a Spur-thighed Tortoise <italic>(Testudo graeca)</italic> eating a Eurasian Eagle-Owl <italic>(Bubo bubo)</italic> pellet with remains of a right Wood Pigeon <italic>(Columba palumbus)</italic> wing. Scavenging of food remains around owl nests by young tortoises may possibly explain the few cases of tortoise-eating Eurasian Eagle-Owls.
</abstract>

Scavenging by young tortoises (<italic>Testudo</italic> sp.) could induce their predation by the Eurasian Eagle-Owl <italic>(Bubo bubo)</italic>

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Brown aberration in black plumage is defined by the progressive reduction of eumelanin in birds. The present report describes an observation of plumage with brown aberration in Indian Pied Starling <italic>(Gracupica contra)</italic> from the agricultural landscape of Shokliya village, Rajasthan, India. The observed individual exhibited browning in all the areas of the plumage that are normally black in this species, including the head, wing feathers, and tail feathers. However, feathers with no pigmentation remained white and unaffected. Genetic and dietary factors are thought to be major factors responsible for such aberrations in birds, but more research is needed to determine the exact reasons.
</abstract>

First record of brown plumage aberration in Indian Pied Starling <italic>(Gracupica contra)</italic> from India

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The adaptation to an aquatic lifestyle has occurred several times during the evolution of birds. The transition from a terrestrial to an aquatic lifestyle requires enormous changes in morphology, physiology, and behaviour. In addition to many physical parameters, aquatic foraging is also a limiting factor, despite the fact that aquatic habitats are often rich in food and prey. Despite many previous studies (foraging, physiology, anatomy, ecology, etc.) and a large amount of data regarding piscivore foot-propelled diving birds, our knowledge on the possible relationships between cranial morphology, feeding mechanism, visual abilities and binocularity is still very limited. In this study, we attempt to achieve a deeper understanding of the visual abilities and foraging related attributes of 5 recent and 1 extinct species of foot-propelled diving birds. We attempted to measure the horizontal visual fields of these species using 3D visualization techniques. According to our model, the narrowest horizontal binocular field was measured in Anhinga <italic>(Anhinga anhinga)</italic>, and the widest was measured in the cases of Great Cormorant <italic>(Phalacrocorax carbo)</italic> and Goosander <italic>(Mergus merganser)</italic>. Our results support the prediction that binocular field variation among aquatic birds is primarily associated with foraging methods and activities.
</abstract>

Aspects of cranial adaptation in foot-propelled diving birds – foraging and visual fields of some piscivorous species

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Based on the Hungarian common bird monitoring scheme (MMM), which is the longest running country-wide monitoring using formal sampling design with representative data for the main habitats in Central-Eastern Europe, we investigated the population trends of common breeding and wintering species. Habitat preference and occupancy of the common breeders, migration strategies and relationships among these characteristics could act behind the population trends. We pointed out that long distance migrant bird species had strong decreasing trends in Hungary and very probably in the entire Pannonian biogeographical region, whereas the partial and short migrant species has increasing trends. Farmland birds had declining trend, which trend became more obvious since the joining of Hungary to the EU. The negative changes in the farmland habitat could influence bird species nesting/foraging mainly in this habitat independently from their migration strategies. Our investigations let us to develop indicators on the basis of migration strategy and habitat usage of common birds to provide regular information about condition of groups of species and their habitats in Hungary and the Pannonian region. The MMM database provide unique opportunity for further investigations of several species, habitats and area specific in a part of Europe where this kind of information is rare yet.</abstract>

Institute of Environmental Sciences, College of Nyíregyháza, 4400 Nyíregyháza, Sóstói út 31/b, Hungary

MME/BirdLife Hungary, 1121 Budapest, Költő utca 21., Hungary

Population trends of common breeding and wintering birds in Hungary, decline of longdistance migrant and farmland birds during 1999–2012

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Migration plays a fundamental part in the life of most temperate bird species. The regular, large-scale seasonal movements that characterize temperate migration systems appear to have originated in parallel with the postglacial northern expansion of tropical species. Migratoriness is also influenced by a number of ecological factors, such as the ability to survive harsh winters. Hence, understanding the origins and evolution of migration requires integration of the biogeographic history and ecology of birds in a phylogenetic context. We used molecular dating and ancestral state reconstruction to infer the origins and evolutionary changes in migratory behavior and ancestral area reconstruction to investigate historical patterns of range evolution in accipitrid birds of prey (Accipitriformes). Migration evolved multiple times in birds of prey, the earliest of which occurred in true hawks (Accipitrinae), during the middle Miocene period, according to our analyses. In most cases, a tropical ancestral distribution was inferred for the non-migratory ancestors of migratory lineages. Results from directional evolutionary tests indicate that migration evolved in the tropics and then increased the rate of colonization of temperate habitats, suggesting that temperate species might be descendants of tropical ones that dispersed into these seasonal habitats. Finally, we found that diet generalization predicts migratoriness in this group.</abstract>

MTA-ELTE-MTM Ecology Research Group, 1117 Budapest, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, Hungary

MTA-DE “Lendület” Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1., Hungary

Phylogeny, Historical Biogeography and the Evolution of Migration in Accipitrid Birds of Prey (Aves: Accipitriformes)

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Great Bustards are still vulnerable to agricultural intensification, power line collision, and other human-induced landscape changes. Their world population is estimated to be between44,000 and 57,000 individuals, showing a stable demographic trend at present in the Iberian peninsula, its mainstronghold, but uncertain trends in Russia and China, and alarming declines in Iran and Morocco, where it willgo extinct if urgent protection measures are not taken immediately. Our knowledge of the behaviour and ecologyof this species has increased considerably over the last three decades, allowing us to control the major threatsand secure its conservation in an appropriately managed cereal farmland. This species became '<bold>The Bird of the Year</bold>' in Hungary in 2014.
</abstract>

The Great Bustard: Past, Present and Future of a Globally Threatened Species

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The Red-footed Falcon is a facultatively colonial species that exploits rookeries, artificial nest-box colonies and solitary corvid nests for breeding. Moreover, the remain gregarious in the post breeding period using communal roost sites prior to migration. We developed and implemented a survey protocol to allow to precisely estimate the number of breeding pairs in all three breeding types and to assess large scale spatio-temporal changes in roost site usage. Our results show that the lowest number of breeding pairs (558) was in 2006. However, in 2014 the number of pairs showed a two fold increase, mainly due to a large scale nest-box programme implemented in the past decade. We identified a total of 105 roost sites throughout the country. The number of birds peaked in the second week of September in the past 10 years. We formulate a recommendation to maintain population monitoring efficiency by reducing the frequency of full surveys to 5 years and using designated study areas to control for temporal trends in between.</abstract>

MME/BirdLife Hungary, Red-footed Falcon Conservation Working Group, 1121 Budapest, Költő utca 21., Hungary

Department of Zoology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, 1088 Budapest, Baross utca 13., Hungary

Breeding population trends and pre-migration roost site survey of the Red-footed Falcon in Hungary

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Shortage of breeding sites is an important limiting factor of bird populations. Artificial breeding platforms, nest-boxes or man-made twig nests often present solutions with remarkable results, however long-term sustainability of these populations remains to be resolved. Furthermore, the question whether the inference of results of studies conducted on birds breeding in artificial breeding sites can be generalized to other populations, still remains open. Here we present the history, and the results of a 20 year old (1995-2015) nest-box programme initiated to increase potential breeding possibilities of Red-footed Falcons in an area, where nest-site shortage was a severe limiting factor. We show how various other species (Jackdaws, Kestrels and Long-eared Owls) have utilized these resources, and present descriptive statistics on their reproductive performance. Analysing the data of a total of 1432 breeding attempts, we show that Red-footed Falcons have similar clutch sizes, and nesting success (i.e. ratio of nests with at least on fledgling), however fledging success (ratio of the number of eggs/fledged nestlings) was different in artificial nest-boxes. When we excluded closed box types from artificial nests, this difference was not apparent. In case of Kestrels (n=1626 breeding attempts) clutch size was significantly higher in artificial nests, while we found no difference in fledging or nesting success. When only comparing open boxes to natural nests, the difference in clutch size was no longer significant. We also analysed the effect of nest box design on reproductive parameters of the two species using regression trees. Inter annual effects were the most important in shaping clutch size and fledging rate of both falcon species, however we also found nest-box design effects, but only in Red-footed Falcons. In years when mean clutch size was high, these birds had lower clutch size in an older, darker nest-box type compared to an alternative design, and to open boxes. However, fledging rate in the same years was lower for both open boxes and older nest-boxes. We conclude that artificial colonies are an important and successful tool in Red-footed Falcon conservation, and that the breeding parameters measured in artificial colonies depend on nest-box design. We present correlative evidence that closed boxes have a significant positive species specific effect on reproduction, probably due to their protection against weather. We also show that birds may have a preference for a certain nest-box design, and that the breeding success in the less favoured box type may be similar to that in open nests. We recommend that future studies incorporate nest-type and nest-box design effects in all comparisons made on reproductive performance in case of Red-footed Falcons and Kestrels.</abstract>

Körös-Maros National Park Directorate, 5440 Szarvas, Anna liget 1., Hungary

Demography, breeding success and effects of nest type in artificial colonies of Red-footed Falcons and allies

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>We studied hunting success of 13 male Red-footed Falcons by radio-telemetry in the second phase of chick rearing. We coded 484 hunting events, and the success measured in captured prey biomass/minute was exceedingly high in corn fields. This is mainly caused by the fact that the effectiveness of hunting for vertebrate prey was high on the harvested stubble fields. Moreover the observed falcons hunted for insects in these stubble field and alfalfa fields most successfully. In the studied habitat the chick feeding period of Red-footed Falcons coincide with the harvest of cereal fields, and the suddenly created lower vegetation cover increases temporarily the accessibility of prey items.Till they were available and could be efficiently harvested, the falcons hunted on the fields within a 1 km radius from the nesting colony for the more profitable vertebrate prey. Thereafter they searched for vertebrate prey on the fields located at average 1–2.5 km distance from the colony. In the later zone falcons started to hunt insects, too, but approximately third of the captured insects (36.4%) was consumed immediately and was not delivered to the colony. Conversely larger prey was almost always (98.1%) carried directly to the nest site. Only one part of the Field Voles was observed to be eaten regularly: the brain. Finally later in the breeding season falcons were observed more and more often to hunt in the nearest fields again, this time for insects. Probably due to the depletion of the distant plots, the closer fields with lower investment became a competitive alternative for the birds.Our results highlight the fact that even for such characteristic short-grass specialist birds as Red-footed Falcons the prey sources offered by arable lands might be temporarily exploited with success. Hence it is very important to integrate the measures offered by agri-environment schemes into the management of this threatened species.</abstract>

Red-footed Falcon Conservation Working Group, MME/BirdLife Hungary, 1121 Budapest, Költő utca 21., Hungary,

Körös-Maros National Park Directorate, 5540 Szarvas, Anna liget 1., Hungary

Hunting efficiency of Red-footed Falcons in different habitats

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Ornis Hungarica

The Journal of MME/BirdLife Hungary

 Ornis Hungarica is one of the oldest professional, peer-reviewed ornithological journals in East and Central Europe and unique in the Carpathian Basin. It was first published in...

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 Ornis Hungarica is one of the oldest professional, peer-reviewed ornithological journals in East and Central Europe and unique in the...

Ornis Hungarica

The Journal of MME/BirdLife Hungary

Population trend and breeding productivity of some migrant passerines in Hungary

Food habits of Rufous-legged Owl in a protected area of south-central Chile affected by mixed wildfire

Investigation of roadkilled Western Barn Owls (Tyto alba) in Csanádi-hát region (SE Hungary)

Scavenging by young tortoises (Testudo sp.) could induce their predation by the Eurasian Eagle-Owl (Bubo bubo)

First record of brown plumage aberration in Indian Pied Starling (Gracupica contra) from India

Aspects of cranial adaptation in foot-propelled diving birds – foraging and visual fields of some piscivorous species