Predation attempts on Hoopoe Upupa epops nests in a rural Mediterranean area of central Italy

Seventeen predation attempts on four Hoopoe Upupa epops nests in an heterogenous agricultural Mediterranean area of central Italy were recorded during breeding seasons 2020-21. Camera traps identified 7 different predators’ species, mainly Western whip snake Hierophis viridiflavus and Black rat Ratt...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Rivista Italiana di Ornitologia
Main Authors: Matteo Annessi, Alessandro Montemaggiori
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Italian
Published: PAGEPress Publications 2023
Subjects:
Upupa epops
uropygial secret
anti-predatory strategy
Castel di Guido
Zoology
QL1-991
Guido
Rattus rattus
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.4081/rio.2023.658
https://doaj.org/article/80928c6e2a14453a8410e430aebf8acc
Description
Summary:Seventeen predation attempts on four Hoopoe Upupa epops nests in an heterogenous agricultural Mediterranean area of central Italy were recorded during breeding seasons 2020-21. Camera traps identified 7 different predators’ species, mainly Western whip snake Hierophis viridiflavus and Black rat Rattus rattus. Uropygial secretions and hissing calls from chicks and incubating female inside the breeding cavity always saved the clutches, while no active defense was performed by parents if outside the nest.

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