Mammals in the diet of the long-legged buzzard (Buteo rufinus) in Ukraine

• Published in: Proceedings of the Theriological School
• Main Author: K. Redinov
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; Russian; Ukrainian
• Published: National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. National Museum of Natural History 2012
• Subjects: mammals; long-legged buzzard; trophic relations; ukraine; Zoology; QL1-991; Common vole; Microtus arvalis
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.15407/ptt2012.11.120; https://doaj.org/article/e860360cbcc0476e90e2a1a2633469c1

Data on diet of Buteo rufinus in 7 provinces of Ukraine were analyzed. Main victim of this bird-of-spray is mammals: 17 species were identified in pellets, 450 sp. (79.6 %) of all animals captured by buzzard. Among mammals, rodents were trapped most frequently: their portion is 97.8 %. Common vole (Microtus arvalis) is dominant by portion of trapped specimens (48.4 %), mole-rats (Spalax sp.) is dominant by overall masse (49.4 %). Phenology of Long-legged Buzzard breeding tied to life cycles of its victims: susliks (Spermophilus), mole-rats (Spalax), and common hamster (Cricetus).