Presas del nuco (Asio flammeus) en un área de pastizal pampeano de Argentina

Abstract

We describe the prey of the Short-eared Owl in a Pampas grassland area of Argentina on the basis of pellets occasionally collected (N = 10). We found a high proportion of small mammals within samples (80% by number and 97% by biomass). Pellets also contained a very small number of insects and an avian prey. Prey spectrum of this owl species in our study site was similar to those described on other previous studies. Presence of rodents that typically inhabit native grasslands in the study area suggests that the Short-eared Owl could be exploiting less human-impacted areas as hunting habitats.